Posted: October 27, 2005

Athletics: News & Notes, Volume 6, Number 81

Sun Belt Cross Country Championships moved

Due to the damage in South Florida caused by Hurricane Wilma, the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships has been moved from Miami to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Florida International University was set to host the event Saturday at Larry & Penny Thompson Park, but with widespread damage in and around Miami and uncertainty concerning flights, the school announced that the championships would be best served by moving to a different location. In a teleconference call with conference officials and members of the FIU athletic department on Tuesday, the decision was made to move the event. Western Kentucky University will now host this year's meet at Kereiakes Park.

The men's 8 kmrace will begin at 11:00 a.m., with the women's 5 kmbeginning at Noon. The meet will still be streamed over the Internet at www.sunbeltsports.org. The time of the web cast is to be determined.

For more information on the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships, visit http://www.sunbeltsports.org/

Gatlin to speak in Pensacola

Reigning world 100m and 200m champion, and 2004 Olympic 100m gold medalist Justin Gatlin will present a positive message to 5,000 youngsters Thursday at the 2005 Gulf Coast Red Ribbon Rally at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. local time.

Gatlin and his mother Jeanette, will speak on the importance of hard work, making good choices, having quality role models and setting goals to achieve one's dreams.

The Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1985 when undercover DEA agent KiKi Camarena was killed in the line of duty. In his honor a small local drug prevention movement began that has since spread nationally. Each October, law enforcement agencies, drug prevention agencies, educational institutions, area businesses and local schools celebrate the Red Ribbon Campaign.

For more information on this event and the 2005 Red Ribbon Campaign, visit www.InformedFamilies.org.