AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas Cross Country team, who have three all-American Southwest Conference runners returning this fall, will open their 2021 season on Wednesday, competing in their home meet, the Tornado Watch Invitational.

The Tornados, who return to a standard fall season with six meets this upcoming year, will kick it off with the Tornado Watch Invitational. The 5K run will be held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas with the men's race beginning at 7:30 a.m., followed by the women's race at 8 a.m.

On the men's side, in the conference's preseason poll, CTX was picked to finish sixth after garnering 51 total votes. Meanwhile, in the ASC Runners to Watch list, Rick Platas was selected.

On the women's side, the Tornados were voted to place sixth in the conference's preseason poll as well, earning 49 votes, while Bianca Bagwell was selected as one of the ASC's Runners to Watch after an impressive first year where she earned ASC Second Team honors.

Concordia Texas will have a full schedule, running in five meets, including two home competitions, before heading to Clarksville, Ark., for the conference championships on Oct. 30.

Besides the Tornado Watch Invitational on Wednesday, the Tornados will also host the Concordia Classic, which will be held on Sept. 24, running under the lights at night at the Northeast Metro Soccer Fields in Pflugerville, Texas.

Concordia Texas will also compete in the Rice Invitational on Sept. 10 in Houston and the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival on Oct. 2 in Fayetteville, Ark., before traveling up to Abilene, Texas on Oct. 16 to run in the Bill Libby Cross Country Invitational.

On the men's side, the Tornados return with six runners from last season's team and will be led by Platas as well as junior teammate Jacob Ismir.

At the ASC Championships last season, Platas and Ismir each received ASC Second Team accolades after finishing with career-best times of 27:13.8 and 27:33.5, respectively. Platas' time also set the program's 8K record, besting Dylan Zoch's time back in 2015.

Daniel Bizima will also be a runner to watch for the men's team. The Abilene, Texas native competed in all three meets last season, finishing off the year with a 25th place finish at the ASC Championships.

The program will look to build off of last season's success after finishing fifth at the conference meet, their best team placement since 2015.

On the women's side, CTX have three returners, led by sophomore Bianca Bagwell, who had an impressive first year last season, securing All-ASC honors at the ASC meet.

The Winnie, Texas native was the top runner for the Tornados in all three meets last season saving her best for last with a career-best 6K run of 25:33.7 at the conference championships to finish 11th overall and earn ASC Second Team honors.

Meghan Kevil and Kristine Regalado also return for CTX.

Last season, Kevil's best performance came at the McMurry Bill Libby Invitational where she recorded a season-best time of 30:50.7 to place in 32nd. Meanwhile, Regalado had her best performance of the season at the ASC Championships, placing 39th at ASC Championships with a time of 31:21.4.

Concordia Texas will start their 2021 season on Wednesday when they will run in their home meet, the Tornado Watch Invitational, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas. The men's race will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the women's race at 8 a.m.