HAMMOND - Looking to build off the momentum that comes with setting numerous personal records in their previous outing, the Southeastern Louisiana University men's and women's cross country teams will enter their final regular season meet of the 2008 season on Saturday when the Lions and Lady Lions head to Clinton, Miss. for the Mississippi College Invitational.
"This is a race where we've traditionally done well," head coach
Sean Brady said. "It's a meet that we're very capable of winning if we do what we're capable of. There will be some good competition there from schools like Louisiana Tech and South Alabama as well as some other small schools that put together really strong cross country programs. They do a good job attracting good teams to this meet and they have a nice course with rolling hills and a steep finish that has hosted the Division II National Championship a few times. So this is a good chance for us to work on some things for the end of the year and still face some quality teams."
Both the men's and women's squads are coming off numerous personal-best runs at last Saturday's Auburn Tiger Invitational, including a sixth-place finish from sophomore
Henry Rop. However, the women's side will be competing short-handed as senior
Everlyne Matonyei, owner of two top-three finishes on the year will sit out Saturday's race with an injury.
Despite the loss of Matonyei, Brady remains optimistic about his teams' chances this weekend. However, the eighth-year head coach is also concerned about getting his squads healthy for the 2008 Southland Conference Championships on Nov. 3.
"This is our final regular season tune-up and we want to go out on a high note and have some momentum heading into the conference meet," Brady said. "But, we know what our top people are capable of at this point, and we want Everlyne healthy for conference."
The Lions and Lady Lions will head to Mississippi on Saturday morning before returning later that afternoon. Following the race, Southeastern will be off the following week in preparation for the league meet on Nov. 3 hosted by Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.