UT Set to Host 2008 SSC Cross Country Championships

TAMPA, Fla. - The 2008 Sunshine State Conference Cross Country Championships will take place on Saturday as The University of Tampa will host the meet at Brandon Trails. The men's 8K race will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the women's 6K event at 8:30 a.m.

Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Nova Southeastern, Rollins, Saint Leo, and Tampa will vie for the SSC championships.

On the women's side, Tampa will look to defend its 2007 conference title. The Spartans, ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II, have claimed the crown five of the past six seasons. So far this fall, UT has finished in the top four in each of the four races in which it has competed. Included among those performances was a team victory at UT's Early Bird Classic.

Nova Southeastern has put together an impressive season, posting a pair of second-place finishes at UT's Early Bird Classic and the Florida Tech Invitational.

In the latest South Region cross country rankings, Tampa held the top spot, while NSU was sixth, and Florida Tech was 10th.

On the men's side, Florida Southern will look to extend its streak of SSC championships to 12, having won every conference men's title since 1997. The Moccasins have posted three top-three finishes this season, including two second-place finishes and one third-place nod.

Another team who will look to make some noise at the conference race is Nova Southeastern. The Sharks have notched four top-four finishes thus far, including a victory at UT's Early Bird Classic and a pair of second-place results at the Florida Tech and flrunners.com invitationals. Additionally, Tampa has compiled some impressive results this fall, posting three top-five finishes.

Florida Southern was tabbed third in the most recent South Region rankings. Tampa was fifth, and NSU was ninth.

DIRECTIONS TO BRANDON TRAILS
From Tampa:
Go East on Hwy 60 all the way through Brandon to Dover Rd (just east the railroad tracks) and east of the fire tower . Get in the left lane and take the 3rd cut-through into the park (on left hand side). If you get to Sydney Washer Rd, you went too far east.

From Orlando:
Take I- 4 West. Exit at Plant City and head south to Hwy 60. Take Hwy 60 west past Sydney Washer Rd. Get in the right lane. The entrance to the park will be on right-hand side, about ½ mile past (west of) Sidney Washer Rd. If you get to Dover Rd, you went too far west.