ARCATA, Calif.--- Humboldt State University men's and women's cross country home invitational will be renamed the Jim Hunt Invitational in memoriam of former legendary and Hall of Fame Humboldt State track and field/cross country coach Jim Hunt.  This past meet traditionally is the Lumberjacks' first meet of the season and only home meet of their season.  It will take place this Saturday, September 18 beginning at 8:30am at Baywood Golf & Country Club.
 
This year's field includes the University of Pacific, Southern Oregon University, Oregon Tech University, College of the Redwoods, College of the Siskyous and the hosts, Humboldt State University. Oregon Tech's men are 11^th while the women are 13^th in the USTFCCCA/NAIA Pre-Season Rankings.  Southern Oregon's men are 15^th and the women are 18^th.  In the USTFCCCA/NCAA Division II West Region Men's Pre-season Rankings, the Lumberjacks are 10^th. 
 
Hunt passed away in September of 2019. He built HSU's track and field distance program into a powerhouse during the 1960s, 1970s and 80s, was inducted into the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Coach Hall of Fame in 2013.  He was inducted into the Humboldt State Athletics' Hall of Fame in 1993. 
 
One of Hunt's prized pupils included Mark Conover, who won the 10,000 meters Division II title in 1981 and followed that up with the individual cross country title that fall.  Conover would earn nine All-America honors among all NCAA divisions, competing in a time when Division II and III champions would be invited to compete in the Division I championships.  Conover would go on to represent the United States as a marathoner.  
 
Hunt created a lasting legacy at Humboldt State as part of the track and field program. During his tenure at Humboldt State from 1967 to 1986, Hunt's team in cross country and track and field captured six Far Western Conference Titles and produced 64 All-Americans and 11 national champions.  The Lumberjacks captured the national title in 1980 in the school's first year in the NCAA Division II.
 
Following his run at Humboldt State, Hunt was hired as the head track & field and cross country coach at UC Davis from 1986 to 1993.  He guided the women's cross country program to a runner-up finish at the 1991 NCAA Division II cross country championships with four All-Americans, among three other top-10 team finishes.  The men's cross country program finished fourth that same season with two All-Americans.
 
After UC Davis, Hunt moved on to Sierra College to serve as the school's head cross country and track & field coach from 1993 to 2000.  He returned to UC Davis as an assistant distance coach in 2000 before his retirement in 2003.  His indoor and outdoor track and field runners combined for 26 All-America honors during that four-year stretch.
 
In addition to his collegiate coaching career, he also coached the USATF Men's Development distance and middle-distance programs from 1981 to 1992; served as the West Team coach at the U.S. Sports Festival in 1981; and was the international director of distance running and race-walking for Special Olympics International.
 
In October of this year, Coach Hunt's 1976 Men's Cross Country Team will be inducted into the Humboldt State Athletics' Hall of Fame.