CLEVELAND - It's become an annual staple for the Lady Statesmen, the Delta State University Cross Country Invitational will kickoff this Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Derrall Foreman Golf Course.  The 5K event will feature some of the top teams in the region, while hosting over 15 high school programs from across the state and the southeast. 

"This race grows a little each and we're proud to be able to host here at Delta State," stated Doug Pinkerton, Lady Statesmen head coach.  "We have seven collegiate teams entered as of today and 15 high schools will be competing as well.  It should be a very competitive race."

The DSU Invitational pares women's and men's collegiate competition with the best our region has to offer in high school cross country talent.  The women's collegiate race starts at 8 a.m. followed by the men's race at 8:40 a.m.  The high school events will begin at 9:20 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. 

Collegiate teams competing Saturday include: Delta State, Christian Brothers, Blue Mountain, Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Lane College and Rust College.   

The Foreman Course offers plenty of great vantage points for fans of the teams traveling into Cleveland. 

Complete race results for both the collegiate and high school competitions will be available Saturday afternoon on the Lady Statesmen Cross Country website.