LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Evansville cross country teams head to one of the largest meets in the nation over the weekend.
The Purple Aces return to Live in Lou hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park on Saturday morning for the fourth straight season. UE will compete in the blue men’s and the silver women’s races at 9:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. respectively. Evansville will race against 38 other teams while racing with 13 other Division I schools including fellow MVC member Murray State in the men’s race.
The last time the Aces raced was up in Terre Haute at the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State. Sophomore runners Samuel Lea (Worchester, England) and Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain) set two Top 15 program times in the men’s 8K with personal bests. Lea led all UE runners with a time of 25:02.5 for sixth overall among Division I runners in Terre Haute. While Rodriguez finished eighth among Division I runners with a time of 25:07.1. The two times were good for 12th and 14th in program history in the men’s 8K.
Live in Lou is one of the largest meets in the United States as according to a Louisville Sports Commission press release, approximately 2,100 athletes are expected to compete over the six separate races (two Gold, two Blue, two Silver). The tristate area will be well represented at the meet along with Evansville as 15 other schools from Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky will compete across the six races. The course of E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park has played host to six NCAA Southeast Regionals along with hosting three NCAA DI National Championships in 2012, 2015, and 2017.
Following the Live in Lou meet on Saturday the Aces will host their final regular season meet of the year. UE will welcome several schools to the Angel Mounds Cross Country course for the Angel Mounds Meet on Friday, October 18th.
