Besides facing top-notch competition, Wayland Baptist could be up against another big obstacle Saturday when the Pioneers compete in the NAIA Cross Country National Championships: the weather.
"The weather looks like it's going to be really cold," Wayland coach
Brian Whitlock said of the forecast potentially being below freezing for the races in Elsah, Ill. "We made sure to get out in the morning while it's cold (and train in order to help acclimate to colder weather). It's supposed to rain Friday, so the course will probably be messy."
The national championships will be held at North Farms Cross Country Course with the women starting their 5k race at 10:30 a.m. followed by the men's 8k race at 11:30.
Both races will be streamed live at
www.NAIANetwork.com free.
An awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. at Crafton Athletic Center. A video highlight show will air at approximately noon Sunday on
www.NAIANetwork.com and on the NAIA's YouTube channel.
Despite what the weather does, Whitlock hopes Wayland's 20
th-ranked women's team performs at a high level, although he is still looking for a solid fifth leg to reel in a faster time.
"I feel pretty confident about our first four girls," he said. "I feel good about what all the girls have done in practice up to nationals and us being ready to run."
Whitlock looks for sophomore
Jackline Jemeli, who missed being an all-American at nationals last year by 15 places (finishing 35th), to earn that recognition this time with a strong race.
"She's led the team all year," Whitlock said. "She's had a really good season and has one more meet to finish it off."
Freshman
Elizabeth Williams and junior
Silvia Sosa also are on Whitlock's wish list to finish the season strong and earn top-20 honors.
"They both have to the potential to do it," the coach said. "It would be really good for them."
Junior
Abril Padilla, who competed much of the season wearing a cast on her right arm, is poised to finish in the top 75.
"Our goal as a team is to finish in top 15," Whitlock said.
Also competing for the Pioneers are
Bailey Breeden,
Tiffany Cano,
Jordan Heymans,
Kaelene Mooney and
Tanya Pavez
Although the men's team narrowly missed qualifying as a team for nationals, Pioneers
Raul Almaraz and
Eric Villagrana, qualified as individuals because of their top-15 finishes at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships.
"I'm going to challenge them to see how close to the top 30 they can be, maybe even top 15," Whitlock said. "They've run well all season and they've mixed it up in our conference with a few all-Americans. I think they've got a good chance to do pretty well."
For more on the championships, go to
www.naia.org.
