BLACKSBURG – Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Dave Cianelli and Head Cross Country Coach Eric Johannigmeier have announced the 2021 cross country schedule.
Action begins for the Hokies on Sept. 1 as Tech hosts the fourth installment of the Virginia Tech Invitational. The Hokies remain at home for their next meet, the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Sept. 10. Both meets will be run on the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course, located on the southwest end of campus.
"We are excited to host our traditional home meets as well as return to a regular fall post season," Coach Johannigmeier said. "We look forward to the start of racing in a little over a month!"
The Hokies hit the road for two October meets, traveling to South Bend, Ind. to run the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 1, before returning to Notre Dame on Oct. 29 for the 2021 ACC Cross Country Championships. The two October meets mark the Hokies' first trips to South Bend since the Hokies joined the ACC, and the first time the Irish will host the ACC meet.
Ahead of the NCAA postseason, the Hokies return home for a final tune-up as they host the Hokie Open on Nov. 5 with the meet returning after its absence in 2020.
The 2021 season marks the return of the NCAA Regional meet after the meet was not held for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's NCAA Southeast Regional is hosted by Kentucky on Nov. 12 in Lexington. The Hokies will look to advance to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 20, hosted by Florida State in Tallahassee.
Both the men's and women's squads are hoping to return to the NCAA Championships after an absence in 2020. The men's team's previous appearance at the national meet in 2019 marked a 17th place finish, highlighted by Peter Seufer's program record fourth place result.
