MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia Southwestern State University cross country teams join some of the top runners in the southeast at the Georgia College Invitational Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Council Farm Course.

Featuring a 5K course for the women's race and an 8K version for the men, the Council Farm Course is located at 2048 Council Mc Cranie Road in Milledgeville. The women kick off the action Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

This year's massive field features 30 total teams, with 13 on the men's side and 17 on the women's.

In the women's race along with the Lady Hurricanes will be fellow Peach Belt Conference (PBC) competitors Georgia College, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, the University of North Georgia and Young Harris College. Also from the NCAA Division II are Savannah State University, the University of West Georgia, Fort Valley State University, Clark Atlanta University and Albany State University. From the NAIA is Middle Georgia State University and Point University. From the NCAA Division III is Wesleyan College, and from the Junior College ranks is Georgia Military College and Oxford College of Emory.

The men's race is 13 teams strong, including Division II schools Georgia College, Clayton State, Columbus State, Young Harris, Savannah State, West Georgia, Fort Valley State and Clark Atlanta. The NAIA is represented in this race by Point, while the JuCo squads are GMC and Oxford Emory.

The most recent GC Invite was in 2019, with Columbus State taking the men's title and North Georgia bringing in the women's trophy. The GSW women have not raced in this event since 2018 when they finished 14th of 19 teams. Current head coach Savannah Ross crossed the finish line second for the Lady Hurricanes that day. For all the members of this year's squad, it will be a brand new course. The GSW men's team was in its first season of competition in 2019 when it competed in this event. The Hurricanes finished 13th of 13 teams. There are no returning runners on the roster.

West Georgia's Solomon Komen won the men's 8K in 25:07 and is a graduate student on the Wolves roster this season so could return to defend his title. The 2019 women's champion was Nicole McMillen of Tusculum University.  

The course record for the women was set by McMillen in 2019 at 20:54.6. The men's record is 24:08.4, set by Silus Kipkoech of UNC Pembroke in 2018.