WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Salem cross country team will head to Rocky Mount, N.C., this weekend to compete in the 2019 USA South Cross Country Championships, which are taking place on the N.C. Wesleyan campus on Saturday, Nov. 2.

It is the second race of the season in Rocky Mount for the Spirits, who finished eighth in the USA South preview on Sept. 21.

The top contender for the individual title on the Salem squad is senior Jessica Bailey, who has three Top-10 outings in 2019. Her first came at the USA South Preview, where she closed the race fifth in a time of 26:46.0. The following week, at the Greensboro XC Invitational, Bailey placed third in a time of 23:01.63. Bailey's third and final Top-10 outing of the slate came in the Livingstone Invitational on Oct. 12, where she was seventh after crossing the line in 22:08.70.

RoyseAnn Day has also competed in all five meets for the Spirits over the course of the season, posting her best time (31:00.94) and finish (14th) at the Greensboro XC Invitational on Sept. 28. She also had a solid performance at the USA South Preview, finishing 45th in a time of 34:22.5.

Salem's Mariana Rubio raced in all five meets in 2019, enjoying her best finishing (15th) and time (31:58.16) in the Greensboro XC Invitational on Sept. 28. In her last outing in Rocky Mount, Rubio finished 49th overall in a time of 36:32.4.

LAST TIME OUT FOR SPIRITS (VERTCROSS MEET): Jessica Bailey was the top finisher for the Salem cross country unit at the VertCross Invitational, hosted by High Point University at Beeson Park on Friday, Oct. 18.

Bailey, who crossed the line 119th in a time of 26:36.27, posted the best finish and time for a Spirits unit that closed 19th overall with a combined time of 2:44:31.02.

Salem was one of 24 teams taking part in the event, which includes numerous NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III institutions from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Among the NCAA Division III teams competing included Guilford, Hollins, King, Roanoke, William Peace and the Spirits.

High Point's Famke Heinst earned top individual honors with a time of 21:12.73, edging out Caroline Inman (Charleston Southern) and teammate Zoe Geis. The host Panthers also captured the team title with five finishers in the Top-20. Wake Forest and Clemson finished second and third, respectively.

The duo of Lupita Uribe and Maria Ferrer closed out the 6k event in 151 and 152, respectively. Uribe finished with a time of 32:24.23, while Ferrer capped off the day with a mark of 32:24.32.

RoyseAnn Day posted the fourth-best time for Salem, crossing the line in 33:58.62, placing 159th. Mariana Rubio rounded out the Spirits team with a 164th-place finish after posting a time of 39:07.58.

For more information on Salem cross country check out www.salemspirits.com.