MADISON, Wis. -- The nations' top cross country teams will gather just west of campus this Friday, Oct. 14 for the 2016 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Presented by Under Armour at the Zimmer Championship Course.

Originally a small competition in early fall, now the invitational draws teams from every NCAA region.

"When we put this meet together, my plan was to have a good midseason meet with maybe ten to 12 teams," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "This quickly has become this monstrosity and it is what it is. It's our system, our current system. It promotes point chasing for those 13 at-large bids and that's what happens and that's why people come here. They come because we put together a very competitive meet and great opportunities to grab points."

Now in its eighth year, the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational has established itself as the premier cross country meet in the country. Fans can watch 17 of the top 30 women's teams — according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coaches' Poll — and 19 of the top 30 men's teams. The women's championship race starts at 12:30 p.m. followed by the men's championship race at 1:20 p.m.

"This year's field is as good as it's ever been," Byrne said. "We have five of the top ten on the women's side and 11 of the top 20. On the men's side, again it's five of the top ten and 11 of the top 20. It's almost duplicate. Was it planned out that way? No, but do we have an incredible field? Absolutely.

"There's going to be a lot of fireworks next week and it's fun to see it happening here on our home course and it's fun to be part of it."

Earlier this year, FloTrack named the invitational the top meet in the country and for good reason. The last three NCAA champion teams on the women's side all competed here in Wisconsin en route to their titles, while last year's NCAA men's champion, Syracuse, took home last year's invitational title.

"Over the years this meet has become one of the true litmus tests for top teams around the country," FloTrack producer Gordon Mack said. "A win at this meet gives a team the confidence that they can contend for a national title. A loss here is a great gut check for a team with national title hopes in November."

Byrne and the program hope this year's meet proves that the Zimmer Championship Course can one day host the NCAA Cross Country Championship. With eyes on the future, Wisconsin has placed a bid to host the 2018 national meet.

"We are hoping to hear within the next four or five weeks if our bid is accepted," Byrne said. "All indications are that we have a good shot at it, so this meet and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and the experiences that we have over the last couple years of putting top-notch meets together is certainly going to help us stand out."