July 7, 2005

The annual Carolina Challenge and the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational highlight the 2005 University of North Carolina cross country schedule, coach Michael Whittlesey announced recently. The Tar Heels open the season with the Wake Forest Relays on Sept. 2 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Carolina women are coming off of one of the best team finishes in school history last year, when they finished 10th in the nation.

"We are excited about this year's schedule," Whittlesey said. "We have added one of the premier cross country meets in the nation to our schedule in the Roy Griak Invitational. This meet attracts several of the top collegiate programs every year. We are also excited to continue the tradition of the alumni meet once again this year. It is a great way to help start the year off by bringing together the past, present and future of UNC cross country."

Other featured meets on the schedule include the Great American XC Festival in Cary on Sept. 24 and the NCAA Preview Meet in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 15. This year's ACC meet will be held in Tallahassee, Fla., at Florida State University. The Region III meet will once again be held in Greenville, N.C.