CLINTON, Iowa - Ashford University Track and Field/Cross Country Head Coach Tyson Graham officially announced the schedule for 2009-10, featuring five regular-season events, including a home meet in mid-October.

"We feel this schedule gives our teams a great chance to be competitive on a high level," Graham said. "We're particularly excited about hosting our Ashford Invitational in October and hope that we can draw some fans and a number of different schools to participate."

The Saints will be traveling to several repeat events including the Les Duke Invitational in Grinnell, Iowa, and the Yellow Jacket Invitational in Lamoni, Iowa.

New on the schedule for the fall season will be the Augustana Early Opener in Rock Island, Ill., where both squads will run shortened distances (men's 6k, women's 4k), and the Beloit Invitational.

The Saints are hosting their first annual Ashford Invitational on Oct. 10 at 10 and 11 a.m., held at the Ericksen Community Center. Entries are still open and more information can be found at Ashford's athletic website, www.ashfordathletics.com.

The MCC Championships hosted by William Penn University opens up postseason competition with the NAIA National Championships held in Vancouver, Wash.

2009 Men's and Women's Cross Country Schedule
September
1 - Augustana Early Opener (Rock Island, Ill.)
12 - Les Duke Invitational (Grinnell, Iowa)
26 - Beloit Invitational (Beloit, Wis.)

October
10 - Ashford Invitational (Clinton, Iowa)
24 - Yellow Jacket Invitational (Lamoni, Iowa)

November
7 - MCC Championships (Oskaloosa, Iowa)
21 - NAIA National Championships (Vancouver, Wash.)