AUSTIN, Texas - Concordia University Texas head cross country coach Alex Aldaco has released the 2009 schedule for both the men's and women's teams. The Tornados will compete in five events during the regular season, all of which will be on the road.

Tornado runners will begin the season at the Southwestern University Open in Georgetown September 1.

"One of the reasons I wanted to start this way was because it is a short course," said Aldaco.  "We have a lot of freshmen this year and this will help ease them into the college atmosphere for cross country."

Concordia will then travel to San Marcos the following weekend to compete in the Texas State University Classic.

Back-to-back trips to Seguin are in the middle of the schedule as Aldaco will lead his runners to the NCAA Division III State Championship and the Texas Lutheran University Invitational on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, respectively.

"We always look forward to the [NCAA] Division III state championship," said Aldaco. "It's always been important and all of the top [NCAA] Division III runners in Texas come to this event."

The regular season is wrapped up Oct. 10, as Concordia takes part in the Incarnate Word University Invitational in San Antonio.

Concordia will also take part in the American Southwest Conference championship meet, hosted by Mississippi College Oct. 31, in Clinton, Mississippi.  Individuals may also be eligible for the NCAA Division III South Regional meet, held in Greensboro, North Carolina, November 14.

The complete Concordia cross country schedule is available here.