THIBODAUX, La. -- In spite of the challenges and adversity brought on by Hurricane Ida just over a month ago, the Nicholls State University cross country program proudly completed the adjusted preparations for the team's lone home meet of the 2021 campaign: the Nicholls XC Invitational, a major regional event featuring five fellow collegiate competitors from the greater-New Orleans area, a slew of local high schools and any member of the community, all set to get underway the morning of Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Manning Fields in Thibodaux, La.

WHAT: The Nicholls XC Invitational
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 2 | 8 a.m. (W); 8:30 a.m. (M)
WHERE: Manning Fields | Thibodaux, La.
MEDIA: Meet Info

With the possibility of the the 2021 edition of the Nicholls XC Invitational in serious question following the devastation of Hurricane Ida, head cross country coach Stefanie Slekis remains pleased her program still managed to pull off hosting a key home meet, noting her pride in both the university along with the community in coming together to ensure the event came to fruition.

"We are very excited to be hosting at home this year after not being able to put the meet together last fall due to COVID and then this year with all the challenges Hurricane Ida presented," Slekis said. "I am so grateful to Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune, Director of Athletics Jonathan Terrell and everyone else on our campus who made it possible for us to host on the grass track we use for practice on main campus. Our grounds department worked quickly to add a large start line and expand the 1200m loop they usually keep manicured for us so we could race the Men's 4-Mile, 5k and JV 2-Mile all with the same start and finish line.

"We look forward to having Tulane and Southeastern here to compete as well as Loyola New Orleans, Dillard, and Xavier. Our teams will be focused on matching up well with Southeastern and Tulane, especially since the former has one of the top five men's returners individually in the Southland Conference, so the meet is a great opportunity for our top two guys -- Miles Kanipe and Randy Canady -- to see how closely they can compete with an All-Conference runner after transferring in this past offseason. On the women's side, transfer Ceren Yilmaz will run her Colonel debut and has been leading every workout this fall, so she is ready to mix it up with Tulane's top runners and be aggressive in the front line, where both Elsa Rijpstra and Elaina Hansen have already shown to be effective this year."

The Nicholls XC Invitational kicks off with the women's 5k at 8 a.m. before the men get underway just under a half-hour later with a 4-Mile of their own.

NICHOLLS XC INVITATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Nicholls -- Host
Southeastern
Tulane
Loyola New Orleans
Xavier (New Orleans)
Dillard

SPECTATORS
-- Please park in the back parking lot of the Harold J. Callis Recreation Center and walk to the grass track behind Barker & Chabert Hall/ Guidry Stadium
-- Bathrooms are located in the student/visitor side of Guidry Stadium closer to Barker & Chabert Hall
-- Race Day Community entries ($25) open at 6 a.m. and close at 6:45 a.m.

UP NEXT
Following the Red & Gray's lone home meet of the season, Nicholls shifts focus to the team's final opportunity to prepare prior to the Southland Conference Championships, traveling across state lines to College Station, Texas for the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 16.

STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Colonels Track & Field/Cross Country, follow the team on Twitter (@Nicholls_XCTF), Instagram (@nichollstfxc) and like their Facebook page (Nicholls Athletics).