This weekend the cross country team will travel to Springfield, Mo, for the Midwest Regional Championships.

On Saturday both the men’s and the women’s team will be competing to extend their season to nationals.

The top two teams in the men’s and the women’s regionals will move on in the competition. The top four runners that aren’t attached to a national team will also compete in nationals.

“It’s about going out there and trying to have the best race possible, everyone running the best race they can,” said sophomore Rebeka Stowe. “At this point it’s almost kind of out of our hands on whether or not we are going to make it to nationals.”

The women’s team had a strong showing last week at the Big 12 Competition, with some runners, like Stowe, having break-out type races.

“I think last week was more just, for me personally, believing in the training we were doing.” Stowe said.

If the women all run to their full potential and with confidence, they could have a chance at continuing on to nationals. The team is hoping to place in fourth or fifth place in regionals.

“I think if we are fourth or better it’s because we really put everything together on the right day, which is difficult to do.” Assistant Coach Michael Whittlesey. “But there is no question the potential is there for this team.”

The men’s team will have more to overcome.

“With the team kind of younger, like we are. I’m not sure how much we’re ready,” junior Nick Caprario said.

The men’s team is determined.

“Our expectation for the men’s team is beating schools that we know we are better or at least ones know we are capable of beating on a good day,” Whittlesey said.

The season is not over yet for the men’s team.

“We can never count ourselves out and I think a lot can happen in cross country,” Capriario said. “You never know what they’re going to do on a given day. You never know how well we can do on a given day.”

— Edited by Megan Morriss