By Bryson Hartzler, sports information assistant

Bluffton University will host the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the university’s nature preserve.

More than 200 runners from the conference’s 10 member colleges and universities will compete in the meet, which is returning to Bluffton for the first time since 2005. The men’s 8K race will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the women’s 6K race at noon. Awards will be presented at the finish line at about 1:30 p.m. Spectator parking will be available near the Bluffton baseball and softball facilities.

Joining the hosts for the meet will be athletes from Anderson, Defiance, Earlham, Franklin, Hanover, Manchester, Mount St. Joseph, Rose-Hulman and Transylvania.