2023 Big Country Festival
Hosted by McMurry University and Abilene Christian University
When: Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2
Where: ACU Cross Country Course - Abilene, Texas
College Women's 5K: 6:30 p.m. - Sept. 1
College Men's 5K: 7:00 p.m. - Sept. 1
High school/middle school races: Begin at 8:45 a.m. and run through 10:50 a.m. Sept. 2
Formally known as the Bill Libby Invitational, McMurry Athletics has partnered with Abilene Christian University to co-host the second "Big Country Festival" in 2023. The two-day meet includes both collegiate and high school races. To keep both institution's cross country legends in the namesake, the races have been named the Naimadu Collegiate Races and the Libby High School Races. The Naimadu races are named after former ACU national champion Nicodemus Naimadu and the Libby races are named after legendary McMurry cross country coach Bill Libby. More information about Libby can be found below.
COLLEGE MEET INFORMATION (PDF)
HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL MEET INFORMATION (PDF)
COURSE INFORMATION
COURSE MAP
BILL LIBBY arrived in Abilene in 1991 and served as the associate pastor at
St. Paul United Methodist Church. With that affiliation, he became involved with McMurry University where he accepted full-time employment in 1996 as a professor in the religious life department.
In addition, he began the McMurry Cross Country club team in 1995, and it became a school-sponsored sport in 1996. Libby initially funded the program, in its entirety, for the first five years. McMurry won the American Southwest Conference titles in 1999 and 2000. He stepped down as head coach following the 2002 season and returned to teaching. However, he began an endowment for the McMurry cross country program to ensure its stability.
Libby served as McMurry's athletic director from 2006 – 2008 and ran the athletic department's CHAMPS Life Skills program.
Libby was in the active military from 1961-1990 as a chaplain and retired as Colonel. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1958 with a degree in English and history and received additional degrees from Drew University, Kansas State and the National War College.
REMEMBERING BILL LIBBY HAWKS TALK PODCAST |
