Hattiesburg, MS- William Carey University men and women's cross country team will get their inaugural season underway as they take part in the Mississippi College Season Opener at Choctaw Trails in Clinton, MS.

Coached by Carey graduate and current assistant baseball coach Ben Smith, the Crusaders will field a men's team consisting of seven runners and a women's team featuring six runners and begin competition in the fall.

Members of the first year men's team are Blake Hegstrom, Naaman Renard, Whit Sanguinetti, Isacc Hitt, Blake Moore, Jospeh Parkman and Channing Stringer. "I look for the men's team to be very competitive as we have a couple of former high school state champions and some other runners who have had great high school careers. They are extremely dedicated and will represent William Carey University very well," said Smith. 

On the women's side, Smith has added Sabrina Ebelt, Jeana Erickson, Callie Merrill, Larke Nightengale, Sandra Ugwu-Dike and Sarah Sullivan.  "The women's team has the potential to surprise people in our first season. We have a runner who was an All-American in Softball and Soccer here at Carey and I have no doubt that she will push to win some races this fall. The women's team, though inexperienced, has really shown great improvement throughout our preseason practices and I expect them to be competitive in the SSAC," said Smith.

William Carey will take part in six meets beginning  on September 1st in the Mississippi College Season Opener in Clinton, MS. The Crusaders will also take part in the Loyola Invitational, Crimson Classic, Choctaw Open, and Southeastern Classic. WCU will wrap up the season in the 2010 SSAC Championship's in Gulfport, MS on November 6th.