Sept. 21, 2011

By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Three years after moving to the new Apalachee Regional Park Cross Country Course, the annual Florida State Invitational race has never been bigger.

A field of 17 colleges and universities, including the host Seminoles, will toe the starting the line for two races Friday evening. Saturday's high school portion of the meet will include 41 schools - including some of the finest programs and individuals from Florida and Georgia - and approximately 800 runners.

"We've got 17 institutions here," FSU men's cross country coach Bob Braman said. "That's the largest field since I've been here. It's exciting to me. A lot of folks will be coming here for the first time and hopefully we will be able to showcase one of the finest cross country courses in the country."