NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will be one of 10 in-state cross country schools competing Friday in the UNO Opener.
        The women's 4,000-meter race will start at 6:10 p.m., followed by the men's 5K at 6:45. The University of New Orleans is the host, and the other competing schools are Dillard, Louisiana-Lafayette, Loyola (New Orleans), LSU, Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern and Tulane.
        Two high-school races will precede the college events.
        Venue will be Lake Oaks Park, which is near UNO. Admission is free. Free parking is available in the visitors lot at UNO's University Center, which is across Elysian Fields Avenue from the race venue. A food truck will be on site but will not accept cash.
        This will be XULA's first meet of the 2023 season.
        The Gold Nuggets' returning letterwomen are Skylah Barton, Jalyn Jenkins, Janell Nixon and Amber Parks. Newcomers are Fedjine Bell, Leojai Hibbert, Kayla Jackson and A'Blesin Wilson. Barton was All-Red River Athletic Conference in 2021, and Jenkins was the 2020 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference individual champion.
        Lejaune George — the Louisiana Freshman of the Year in 2022 — Damoy Boyd and Skyler Madison are the Gold Rush returning lettermen. Landan Gillespie and Zachery Williams are newcomers.
        Yhann Plummer is in his sixth season as head coach of XULA men's and women's cross country and track and field. Assistant coaches are Anthony Kidd, Kwame Jackson and Darrick Wilson.
        Additional XULA meets will include the Loyola Triangular Sept. 8 in Marrero, La., the LSU Invitational Sept. 15 in Baton Rouge, La., the Nicholls Invitational Sept. 30 at Thibodaux, La., and the Watson Collegiate Classic Oct. 14 at Clinton, Miss. The RRAC Championships will be Nov. 3 at Texarkana, Texas, and NAIA nationals will be Nov. 17 at Vancouver, Wash.
        Both XULA teams placed third in the 2022 RRAC meet.