SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Cross country runners from Spartanburg Methodist College will compete Saturday in the 2006 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Cross Country Championship in El Paso, Texas.

The SMC men’s cross country team will make its fifth straight appearance at the NJCAA cross country national meet. In 2005, the team finished 19^th at the meet.

“We’ve raced well against NCAA Division I and II teams and NAIA teams all season, winning four of five invitationals we’ve run,” said Mike Foley, coach of the SMC men’s and women’s cross country teams. “And our men’s team is undefeated against junior colleges.

“We’re going to race hard and make sure everyone knows just how good this team is. We have a very dedicated group of men on this team,” he said.

Also representing SMC is sophomore Jocelyn Veit, the only runner from the college’s women’s cross crountry team to qualify for the national meet.

“Jocelyn is an amazing runner. She has performed well all season despite some pretty serious injuries that have limited her training,” Foley said.

The SMC men’s team finished its regular season ranked 17^th in NJCAA Division I and was ranked as high as 15^th during the season. The women’s team closed out the season ranked 20^th, ranking as high as 17^th during the season.

El Paso Community College hosts this year’s championship. SMC runners leave for nationals Thursday, Nov. 2.

For more information please contact coach Mike Foley at (864) 325-5957 or athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.