University of Montevallo Hosts Falcon Classic College Meet
Coach Tommy Barksdale of the University of Montevallo is excited about bringing nine women’s and eight men’s college teams to campus for the second Falcon Classic Cross Country Meet this Saturday. Long term, he hopes the continued growth and visibility of this event will help Montevallo in a quest to bring the NCAA Division II Southeastern Sectional Qualifying Meet to the bucolic campus just south of Birmingham in a few years.
Regardless, this Saturday promises to be very competitive, especially on the Women’s side. The course has a new section and is in great shape for fast times for the teams from three states. Delta State, Alabama State, Spring Hill College, West Alabama, North Alabama, Birmingham Southern, Victory College, and Miles College are slated to join the host team at 8 am Saturday morning for the Women’s race with the Men following at 8:45.
“We have had a good week of practice and are trying to be low key since we are two weeks before our Peach Belt Conference Meet,” said Coach Barksdale. Yet, he expects a good crowd to come out and make Saturday’s meet an exciting event. For the coach, this meet and its growth are also a reflection of the state of the sport at all levels in Alabama. “The sport is on the upswing. At the high school level there is a lot of talent and this event and others around the state illustrate that.”