FLORENCE, Ala. (September 6, 2024) – The University of North Alabama cross country programs host the annual UNA Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7 at McFarland Park in Florence, Ala. The women's 5K race begins at 7:45 a.m. and the men's 8k race begins at 8:30 a.m. 
 
This is the only home invitational for the season, as North Alabama will honor its seniors after the race concludes. 
 
McFarland Park's course is a reconstructed golf course that also serves as a disc golf course when not used by the cross country programs. The course overlooks the Tennessee River that includes a flat, fast course with sweeping turns, many times resulting in personal records. Most parts of the course are maneuverable for coaches and fans alike to access the meet. McFarland is located about a mile from downtown Florence.
 
Ten teams are represented in both races, including Alabama A&M, Calhoun Community College, Jacksonville State, Lane College, North Alabama, Northeast Mississippi, Northwest-Shoals Community College, Rust College, Union and West Florida. There will also be unattached runners that compete this weekend. 
 
Last season, the North Alabama men's team won the meet against four other teams. Former Lions Fedrick Kipyego and Brandon Lee placed in the top three for the weekend with returners Jackson Hamlin, Mason Schrader and Brent Lyons rounding out the top 10. 
 
The UNA women's team did much of the same and won the overall crown, placing four of their runners in the top five with Gracie Matthews taking the cake, finishing first. Other returners such as Laura Mobley, Janeth Jepkirui and Ashlyn Anderson finished in the third, fourth and fifth slots, respectively. The women finished first in a field of six. 
 
Saturday will mark the second race of the season for UNA with the first at the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic in Memphis, Tenn. Both the men's and women's program finished in the fifth slot out of 13 and 14 teams, respectively. Barring their own Invitational from a season ago, the Lions did not have a top five finish in any other race. This season, one race is all that was needed for both programs to accomplish this feat. 
 
After this weekend, the Lions travel to the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala. hosted by Jacksonville State at John Hunt Park. The meet takes place next Friday, Sept. 13.
 
For more information on the 6th Annual UNA Invitational, click here.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.