This weekend will mark the biggest race of the year for the University of Kansas cross country team. The men’s and women’s teams will travel to Peoria, Ill., to take part in this year’s Midwest Regional Championships. The men will look to build off last year’s success in which they finished second, and the women will try to improve on their 12th place finish. With tensions rising for each team, the men’s superstar All-American Colby Wissel is unfazed.

“I sure hope it is not my last race, but you do have to approach it with the possibility that it could be,” Wissel said. “I think the main thing is that you have to run it smart. There are a lot of good runners out there, and you have a very specific goal, and that is to qualify for nationals.”

This will be the last chance for the teams to qualify for nationals this year. The system is similar to the men’s college basketball bracket because 31 teams will receive berths from their respective regional. The top two finishing teams from each of the nine regions automatically qualify for nationals. The remaining 13 at-large bids are awarded based on performance throughout the year. Additional, four invitations for each region are extended to the top four individual competitors whose teams did not advance. With these expectations weighing heavily, the pressure is heaviest those on the senior classes. There is a lot of excitement building for a race of this magnitude, and senior Paul Hefferon understands the task before him.

“If anything, I have to settle myself down,” Hefferon said. “I was putting my stuff together this morning, and I took my Kansas jersey out. I was thinking how if I don’t run well this weekend, it is my last race in a Kansas jersey, and I don’t want it to be my last one.”

With such a big race this weekend, the teams have actually done less than in weeks past. With such demanding training throughout the year, coach Stanley Redwine has prepared the teams for success.

“During this time of year we always have a saying,” Wissel said. “When in doubt, do less. We have cut back on our miles, and we are very prepared for this meet.”

Although less may be more, the two teams still expect to compete on the highest level. Although the motto encourages taking it easy, coach Redwine understands the stakes.

“Of course there are expectations because this is the Midwest Regional.” Redwine said. “This could be the last chance to run this year, so I think the kids understand that and are ready to run.”

The two teams look to continue their quest to nationals at Bradley University on Saturday. The gun for the men sounds at 11 a.m., with the women following shortly after at 12:15 p.m.

— Edited by Jeff Briscoe