CROSS COUNTRY NOTEBOOK
Vermont cross country hosts five schools in the Fall Foliage Invitational on Saturday (Oct. 16) at Hard'Ack Recreation Area in St. Albans. The home event kicks off at 1 p.m. with the women's 5k, followed by the men's 8k at 1:45 p.m. The Fall Foliage Invitational is Vermont's final home meet of the 2021 campaign, and the last meet before the America East Championships on October 29.
 
DIRECTIONS TO HARD'ACK
Hard'Ack Recreation Area in St. Albans is located about 25 miles north of the University of Vermont campus. Take exit 19 off I-89. Go right (north) on VT Rte. 104 (Fairfax Road) for about 1.2 miles. Then turn left on to Congress St. Hard'Ack Recreation area is immediately on your right.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Results: Women's 5k | Men's 8k
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"This Fall Foliage Invite has continued to grow into a really exciting and competitive event for our program," said head coach Matt Belfield. "In welcoming a couple more teams – six racing in total – we expect to keep showcasing high-level cross country racing on a championship-level course. We feel that this can evolve into an exceptional event regionally. I know our men and women are motivated to perform well; and to finish the regular season with momentum toward the America East and NCAA Regional competitions that lie ahead."
 
THE FIELD
The Catamounts are hosting Bryant, Marist, Sacred Heart, SUNY Plattsburgh, and Clinton County Community College on Saturday. Bryant and Sacred Heart competed in the last Fall Foliage Invitational two seasons ago.
 
THE FALL FOLIAGE INVITE IS BACK
Vermont hosts the Fall Foliage Invitational for the first time since 2019, due to last season being postponed to the spring. In 2019, the UVM women earned their second victory of the season, led by Phoebe Koski (17:52.6) and Bel Sogoloff (17:54.8) who swept the top two spots. The UVM men (2nd) were led by John Benner (25:13.0) who finished third overall.
 
RETURNING TO HARD'ACK
The Catamounts return to Hard'Ack Recreation Area for the second time this season. UVM opened the 2021 campaign in St. Albans. Jane Leighton raced to first place in the women's 5k with a time of 17:55.40 and led the Vermont women to a second-place finish in the team competition. Ian Denis (9th) led the UVM men, who finished fourth, with an 8k time of 25:45.40.
 
JANE'S RECORD
Last time the Catamounts were in action, Jane Leighton set a Vermont women's cross country record at the Paul Short Invitational. The senior logged a blistering time of 20:55.7 to become the first in program history to run a crack the 21-minute mark. Leighton finished 39th against top-tier competition at the Paul Short, and was later named the TD Bank Student-Athlete of the Week.
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO CONFERENCE
Saturday's meet is the Catamounts final tune-up before the America East Championships on October 29. The conference championships are hosted by UNH in Durham, New Hampshire and are slated to begin at 12 p.m.