ECU Cross Country Meet Renamed The Dill Family Foundation Invitational
September 30, 2025 | Cross Country
GREENVILLE, N.C. – ECU Athletics announced today that its annual home cross country meet has been officially renamed The Dill Family Foundation Invitational. The recognition honors a generous investment made by The Dill Family Foundation in support of the Pirates' track and field/cross country program.
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The Dill Family Foundation previously established a scholarship endowment in honor of legendary ECU Track and Field head coach Bill Carson. Jim Dill, who competed as a track and cross country student-athlete for the Pirates from 1975-79 and earned All-Southern Conference honors in 1976, now serves as the foundation's director. The Dill Family Foundation was originally created by Jim's father, George Dill, with the mission of helping young people succeed in life.
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"In 2006, my father, George Dill, and I founded the Dill Family Foundation Scholarship in Honor of Coach Bill Carson as a way to give back to ECU Cross Country and Track which were so instrumental in my college life," said James K. Dill, a 1975 ECU graduate. "The foundation has been thrilled to see the scholarship grow and we are excited to continue funding the scholarship and support ECU Track and Cross Country now and into the future. The Dill Family Foundation is excited to have our name associated with the university and athletes of the Pirate Cross Country Invitational!"Â
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"We are very appreciative of the continued investment made by The Dill Family Foundation to our track and field program," ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. "Jim understands what it means to be a student-athlete, and it's always an honor to have a former Pirate give back to a program that helped shape his growth both on and off the track."
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The first event under the new name will take place on Friday, October 3, at Overton's Lake Kristi in Grimesland. More than 20 collegiate teams are scheduled to compete, with the men's 8K race beginning at 9 a.m., followed by the women's 6K race at 9:45 a.m.
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The Dill Family Foundation previously established a scholarship endowment in honor of legendary ECU Track and Field head coach Bill Carson. Jim Dill, who competed as a track and cross country student-athlete for the Pirates from 1975-79 and earned All-Southern Conference honors in 1976, now serves as the foundation's director. The Dill Family Foundation was originally created by Jim's father, George Dill, with the mission of helping young people succeed in life.
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"In 2006, my father, George Dill, and I founded the Dill Family Foundation Scholarship in Honor of Coach Bill Carson as a way to give back to ECU Cross Country and Track which were so instrumental in my college life," said James K. Dill, a 1975 ECU graduate. "The foundation has been thrilled to see the scholarship grow and we are excited to continue funding the scholarship and support ECU Track and Cross Country now and into the future. The Dill Family Foundation is excited to have our name associated with the university and athletes of the Pirate Cross Country Invitational!"Â
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"We are very appreciative of the continued investment made by The Dill Family Foundation to our track and field program," ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. "Jim understands what it means to be a student-athlete, and it's always an honor to have a former Pirate give back to a program that helped shape his growth both on and off the track."
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The first event under the new name will take place on Friday, October 3, at Overton's Lake Kristi in Grimesland. More than 20 collegiate teams are scheduled to compete, with the men's 8K race beginning at 9 a.m., followed by the women's 6K race at 9:45 a.m.
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