Foley Welcomes Sun Belt Championships and New Teams

Foley Sports Tourism will be welcoming three Sun Belt Conference Championships this year and with them four new teams to the city.

James Madison University, Marshall University, Old Dominion University and the University of Southern Mississippi are already making an impact across all the Sun Belt athletic programs in their inaugural year with the conference. Those qualifying for the Sun Belt Championships in cross country, women’s soccer, and volleyball will be traveling to Foley to compete for their respective titles.

The Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships kick things off this week at Graham Creek Nature Preserve. The competition will bring the top runners to compete in Women’s 5k and Men’s 8k events. Both individual and team championships will be awarded.

The Women’s Soccer Championship will be awarded the following week with the top 10 teams competing in a single-elimination bracket.  The winner will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Championship Tournament.

The Volleyball Championship will welcome all 14 teams into a single-elimination bracket. The University of South Alabama made history last year winning their first ever Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Championship.

While many of the Sun Belt teams will be returning to Foley, some will be making the trip for the first time. Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said while the championship competitions have always been an exciting time, the addition of these teams will bring a new facet to the events.

“We look forward to growing our partnership with Foley Sports Tourism and the City of Foley by hosting the Sun Belt Cross Country Championships in the city this weekend,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “These events will also be the first opportunity for our four new members—James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss—to compete for a Sun Belt postseason title, bringing added excitement to all of this year’s festivities in Foley.”

City of Foley Executive Director of Leisure Services, David Thompson said it’s not only the competition that will be exciting.

“This will be the seventh year we welcome Sun Belt teams. Each year we look for innovative ways to build upon the championship experience,” Thompson said. “We want to not only impress the new teams that are visiting for the first time but also bring fresh experiences to the teams who have been here before. It’s never the same trip twice.”

All three Sun Belt Conference Championships will be streamed live on ESPN+. For more information on the Sun Belt Championships or any Foley Sports Tourism event contact Stephanie Donald.