QUINCY, Ill. - Quincy cross country will make its debut at the Brian T. Simpson Invitational on Saturday, October 10, in Columbia, Missouri.

Hosted by the University of Central Missouri, the meet will give both Hawks squads an opportunity to compete at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.

The men's 8K will begin at 9:00 AM, followed by the women's 5K at 9:45 AM.

Saturday's meet will serve as Quincy's final competition before the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships in November, making it an important opportunity for both teams to close out the regular season on a strong note.

A few Hawks will enter the meet after impressive finishes at the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational.

Austin Prince finished first for the men and secured the sixth place slot in the men's 8k record book. For the women, Katie Park finished first and will look to put together another strong performance as she works towards the conference championships. 

This will be Quincy's first appearance at the Brian T. Simpson Invitational, giving the Hawks a chance to experience a new course and compete against a new field.

The meet is held at Gans Creek, a course that has hosted major collegiate competitions, including the SEC Championships and NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

Gans Creek features a wide, grass-covered course with rolling terrain, sweeping turns and multiple loop configurations designed specifically for cross country competition. The course's layout provides runners with plenty of room throughout the race while still presenting challenging changes in elevation.

The 3K loop also includes an uphill stretch toward the finish, creating an important final test for runners as they make their push to the line.

For the Hawks, the meet provides one final chance to race before turning their full attention toward the GLVC Championships. With a new meet, a new course and the conference championships waiting ahead, Quincy will look to make the most of its final regular-season opportunity in Columbia.