MCC Track Announces 2015 Schedule

From School Reports

Meridian, MS – The Meridian Community College track and field team announced its 2015 indoor and outdoor schedule.  MCC’s program returns this spring with trips to some of the top collegiate meets in the country, along with hosting a home meet.

“I am excited about this team and what this schedule allows us to accomplish,” said Head Coach Chip Gayden.  “I wanted to give this team the opportunity to showcase their abilities each week against quality competition, but at the same time prepare us for our National Championships.”

MCC will kick off the 2015 indoor track season on Dec. 5 at the Birmingham Southern Ice Breaker at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, AL.

“The Birmingham Southern Ice Breaker meet, is a great meet for our team to get their feet wet, and to really get comfortable at competing against college programs, and see where we are in our training from the fall,” Gayden said.

After the holiday break, MCC will begin the heart of their indoor schedule with three trips to the state of Alabama starting with the Auburn Invitational on Jan. 17 at the Birmingham CrossPlex followed by the UAB Invitational Jan. 23-24 at the Birmingham CrossPlex and the Samford Invitational Feb. 14 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

“Having the Birmingham CrossPlex only two hours away is a great benefit for our program.  It is one of the premier indoor facilities in the country,” said Gayden.  “When we come back from the break we immediately compete against six teams that finished in the Top 25 at the NCAA Championships last season.”

MCC will wrap up the indoor regular season with a trip to LSU for the LSU Twilight on Feb. 20.  MCC will then compete at the NJCAA National Championships on Mar. 5-7 in Albuquerque, NM.

“Our indoor schedule sets us up to have a good deal of success,” said Gayden.  “If we can progress each week, we will be very competitive, and prepared come time for Nationals in Albuquerque.”

MCC will open their outdoor season at the Alabama Relays Mar. 19-21.  The team will then travel to Mississippi College on April 3 for the MC Twilight Invitational.  On April 11, MCC will host Coahoma Community College and Hinds Community College for the MCC Relay Invitational.

“The MCC Relay Invitational will be really exciting,” said Gayden.  “We will bring in the three other community colleges in Mississippi who compete in track and field and it really gives us an opportunity to showcase not only our program and school, but JUCO track and field in Mississippi.”

Following the home meet, MCC will travel to one of the top meets in the country at the LSU Alumni Gold on April 18.  MCC will then travel to the Southern Miss Invitational on April 25.  MCC wraps up the regular season with a trip to Starkville for the Jace Lacoste Invitational hosted by Mississippi State on May 3.  Following the regular season MCC will compete at the NJCAA National Championships in Hutchinson, KS on May 14-16.

“This schedule really provides us with great competition, both indoors and outdoors,” said Gayden.  “Anytime you can go to places like Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Auburn, it really speaks volumes about what those programs think of you.  I believe going to venues like that will help us prepare at a very high level for the championship parts of our season.”