Foley Sports Tourism is set to host the USA Archery Collegiate 3D National Championship this weekend at the Graham Creek Interpretive Center before a trio of Sun Belt Conference championships are held at the end of the month and into November.

This weekend’s event features Recurve, Compound, Fixed Pins and Barebow divisions and will be run in partnership with the Archery Shooters Association for members of the USA Archery Collegiate Archery Program.

The event kicks off Thursday with the first (8:30 a.m.) and second (1 p.m.) rounds of competition set for Friday. Saturday’s schedule includes the individual class shoot-down (9 a.m.) and the team rounds (noon) before the awards are presented later that night.

Not long after that, the Graham Creek Nature Preserve will play host to the Sun Belt Conference cross country championship Oct. 29 where the conference will crown a champion at a neutral site for the first time ever.

The women’s 5K race is slated to start at 10:02 a.m. with the men’s 8K race set to follow at 11 a.m.

That will be the first of three sports that will earn the title of Sun Belt champion in Baldwin County where the women’s soccer tournament (Oct. 31-Nov. 6) and volleyball tournament (Nov. 16-20) will both be held at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.

The women’s soccer championship has been held in Foley since 2016 and the volleyball championship since 2020.

“Our hope is that these athletes take away an unforgettable experience and a reason to come back to our area,” David Thompson, Executive Director of Leisure Services for Foley Sports Tourism said. “The Sun Belt Conference was one of our first partnerships with Foley Sports Tourism and we always appreciate opportunities to expand our relationship to a new group of Sun Belt visitors. When we work with remarkable partners like the Sun Belt, it’s a win not only for the event’s participants and spectators, but a positive economic impact for our local community, as well.”