Women's Cross Country Preps for the UIW Invitational

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The University of Dallas women's cross country team is gearing up for their fourth meet of the season.  They will head down to San Antonio this Saturday to compete in the University of the Incarnate Word XC Invitational.  The course will be at Live Oak City Park, with the women scheduled to run the 6k at 9:05 am.

This will be the only event of the season where the men and women do not compete together, as the men won't be in action until the following week when both programs run in the Midwestern State Mustang Open.  The ladies will face strong competition, with 17 teams from all divisions of the NCAA and the NAIA scheduled to participate.  Senior captain, Maria Pecha will be expected to lead the way as the team's number one, as she has done all season.  She leads a young team that includes newcomer Ella Davis, who finished as the team's number two last week at the Concordia Classic.

After running a wildly irregular course last week, the Crusaders will be happy to back running the 6k.  The course will be mostly flat and fast and could provide the opportunity for some PR's if the weather cooperates.  Pecha was on pace for a PR in the 6k at the Concordia Classic, but was denied the chance as the course was only set up for a 5.5k.

"I like to compare us to the 2014 Chicago Cubs, before they won the World Series in 2016.  The 2014 season was a rebuild year for the Cubs, and this year is no exception for both of our cross country programs," said head coach Nick Schneigert.  "With a strong recruiting class coming in for next year, I think we will be competitive in the conference.  This year we have seen some course PR's and last week's performance at Concordia on a short course really pleased me.  This will be the first 6k for the women this Saturday; I am always optimistic and excited for our team, so I can't wait to see what this race will do for them."