**CLINTON, Miss.** — The Mississippi Christian men's and women's cross country teams return to Choctaw Trails on Friday, October 16, as they host the Watson Cross Country Classic.

The men's 8K race is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., followed by the women's 6K race at 8:45 a.m. The meet will feature more than 30 teams on both the men's and women's sides, making it the largest collegiate Watson meet in program history.

Both squads return to action following competition at the Louisville Classic and Belhaven Invitational on October 3. With the postseason approaching, Friday's meet will serve as a sharpener for the Choctaws ahead of next weekend's trip back to Huntsville, Alabama, for their final competition before the Gulf South Conference Championships.

The Mississippi Christian men enter the weekend receiving votes in the USTFCCCA Division II National Coaches' Poll, continuing to gain national recognition as the championship portion of the season approaches.

With a large field expected at Choctaw Trails, Friday's competition will provide both squads with another opportunity to prepare for the final stretch of the season while competing on their home course.

"We're excited about what this year's Watson Invitational is shaping up to be," said Mississippi Christian head cross country coach Chris Webber. "This will be the largest college Watson meet we've ever hosted, with over 30 teams competing on both the men's and women's sides. Growing this meet has been a goal of ours for several years, and it's exciting to see that growth come to fruition. We've always believed Choctaw Trails is one of the best cross country courses in the South, and it's encouraging to see so many programs recognize that and choose to come compete here. We're expecting some fast racing on Friday. A lot of credit goes to Coach Snyder and his crew for the work they put into maintaining Choctaw Trails and making it a place teams want to come race."

Following Friday's meet, the Choctaws will shift their focus toward next weekend's race in Huntsville as both teams look to carry momentum into the postseason.

Results from the Watson Cross Country Classic will be available following the conclusion of both races on Xpresstiming.