XU out of cross country meet due to Gustav's approach
August 28, 2008 / 1:35 p.m. CDT

     NEW ORLEANS — The expected strengthening and approach of Tropical Storm Gustav toward the central Gulf of Mexico has prompted the Xavier University of Louisiana athletics department to cancel one event and postpone another.
     The university will conduct no classes after noon Friday, and all campus buildings will close by 4 p.m. that day. As a result Xavier's men's and women's cross country teams have been withdrawn from the season-opening Tulane Green Wave Invitational at 6 p.m. Friday at New Orleans' City Park.
     Postponed were Saturday walk-on men's basketball tryouts at The Barn. Coach Dannton Jackson has not announced a makeup date.
     Xavier announced Wednesday that classes will resume next Thursday, Sept. 4. The next event on the cross country schedule is the Golden Eagle Classic Invitational, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 at Tatum Park in Hattiesburg, Miss.
     Xavier suspended intercollegiate athletics in 2005-06 due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Six Xavier teams returned the following year, and five of them won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championships.