FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – A handful of the nation’s top cross country teams in NCAA Division II will stretch their legs Saturday at Hoover’s Veteran’s Park for the Gulf South Conference Championship meet.

The Hoover High School and Spain Park High School cross country booster clubs will serve as hosts of the championships, which feature 15 women’s teams and 10 men’s squads.

The team with the best score wins the championship provided it has at least five runners who finish the course. The top finisher is Individual Champion, while the top freshman finisher is the Freshman of the Year. The first-10th finishers are tabbed First Team All-GSC, while 11th-20th are Second Team All-GSC.

The men’s race will begin at 9 a.m. The women will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the men’s race.

The GSC meet precedes the Ohio Valley Conference championship Oct. 27. Spain Park’s home course will also serve as host to a high school regional in November