Oct. 15, 2009

NCAA Pre-Nationals Home

Chile Pepper Home

WACO, Texas - Baylor's cross country teams will split up to compete at both the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., and the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday.

At the NCAA Pre-Nationals, the Baylor women will face the toughest competition of the season outside of the NCAA Championships. The meet is split up into two equal, 37-team races with No. 12 Baylor competing in a race that features 10 other top-30 teams. Four teams ranked ahead of Baylor, including top-ranked Washington, No. 5 Princeton, No. 8 Minnesota, and No. 9 Florida, will give the Bears a chance to earn valuable wins toward another berth in the NCAA Championships.

"We are looking forward to it, it's going to be a good field at Pre-Nationals," head coach Todd Harbour said. "There are at least 20 ranked teams. It's always nice to get a chance to get some wins over some teams that are going to be at the NCAA meet. It gives the ladies a chance to compete against a big field like the NCAAs."

A split-squad of Baylor women and the men's team will travel to the Chile Pepper Festival on the campus of the University of Arkansas, giving them a chance to compete in one last tune-up before the Big 12 Cross Country Championships.

"It's the mid-point in the season and you really find out where you're at," Harbour said. "Health-wise, we are in good shape. Physically, we are in good shape, and we are looking forward to this weekend."

At the NCAA Pre-Nationals, the Baylor women will compete in the second women's race, scheduled for 12:55 p.m. In the Chile Pepper, the men will kick off the race at 9:45 a.m., with the women to follow at 10:30 a.m.