Oct. 4, 2007

MEMPHIS--Already the largest night-time cross-country meet east of the Mississippi River and the second largest in the nation, the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic hosted by Christian Brothers University will be bigger than ever Saturday night, October 6, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in East Memphis.

An estimated 2,000 runners will compete in this year's races, representing over 200 schools from 12 different states throughout the South and the Midwest. This year's field is nearly 50 percent larger than last year's, which featured approximately 1,400 runners.  This year's increase in numbers makes the Twilight Classic the largest night-time meet in the nation.  In addition to sheer numbers, the quality of the field is the strongest ever.

Almost 750 runners from 47 schools will compete in the college races, which feature national powerhouses such as Drake, defending men's champion South Alabama, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, defending women's champion Harding, and Arkansas-Little Rock, as well as, local teams such as CBU, University of Memphis, Crichton College, and LeMoyne-Owen College. Both of last year's individual champions, Whitney Kerth of Arkansas-Little Rock and Vincent Rono, will race again this year. Rono, who ran for South Alabama last year, will run unattached this year.

The high school race will also feature numerous local and regional powerhouses, such as White Station HS, Houston HS, Tupelo (Miss.) HS, New Orleans Jesuit HS, New Orleans Brother Martin HS, Brentwood (Tenn.) HS, and others.

The event kicks off at 5 p.m. with two middle school 2k races. The girls' race is at 5 p.m., followed by the boys' race at 5:20 p.m. Currently, 117 runners are registered for the girls' race, and 145 in the boys' race.

At 5:40 p.m., the event shifts to high school runners, with all high school courses being 5k. The girls' junior varsity race is set for 5:40 p.m., followed by the boys' junior varsity at 6:20 p.m. There are 168 runners are registered for the girls' race, and 252 runners registered for the boys' race.

The girls' varsity race is at 7 p.m., followed by the boys' varsity race at 7:40 p.m. Currently, 253 athletes are registered for the girls' race, and 279 for the boys' race.

Finally, the college races begin at 8:10 p.m. with the 5k women's race. The 8k men's race will be at 8:50 p.m. to finish the day. There are 371 runners to compete in the women's race, and 377 in the men's race.