CEDARVILLE, Ohio - The four-time defending American Mideast Conference champion Lady Jackets will be hard-pressed to match last fall's success, but their 2009 schedule will prepare them as much as possible for another banner year.

Cedarville, who has been the NAIA national runner-up after winning the NCCAA title in each of the past three years, opens the season again on Sept. 4 at the Shawnee State Invitational. The first of three home meets follows on Sept. 19 with the 19th Annual Friendship Invitational.

The Lady Jackets, the first NAIA school to win the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Championship in 2008, will attempt to defend their trophy on Oct. 2. They head to the Rose-Hulman Invitational on Oct. 10 followed by the Aquinas Invitational on Oct. 24.

The Elvin R. King Cross Country Course will host two key events on back-to-back weekends. The AMC Championship runs on Nov. 4 with the NCCAA Championship returning on Nov. 14.

The NAIA Championship moves to the northwest on Nov. 21 in Vancouver, Wash.

2009 WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE