CONWAY, Ark. – The University of the Incarnate Word men's and women's cross country teams travel to Arkansas on Friday, for the Southland Conference Championships.
 
The championships take place on Beaver Fork Lake, hosted by Central Arkansas. The women's race (6,000 meters) begins at 8:15 a.m. (CT). The men's race will follow shortly after, beginning at 9:15 a.m.
 
THE MEN'S TEAM
The men's squad is up against four teams are ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll in the South Central Region. No. 4 Lamar is the highest-ranked team in the competition, followed by No. 12 Abilene Christian, No. 14 McNeese and No. 15 Texas A&M- Corpus Christi. The host team, ACU is the reigning conference champions. The past two years at the SLC Championships, the men's squad has finished in third place.
 
The Cardinals are coming off a strong showing at the Arturo Barrios Invitational, where they averaged a 25:28 finish. This was the best average for the squad since their third-place finish at the 2017 SLC Championship.
 
THE WOMEN'S TEAM
The women's squad opened the season with two wins at home meets (UIW Opener and UIW Invite) led by sophomore Alia Henderson. The team also had a strong showing at the Chile Pepper Festival with a 14-second gap, the best of all the women's teams.
 
Four of the squads on the women's side also are ranked on the South Central Region poll. Stephen F. Austin is ranked the highest at No. 6 followed by No. 9 Abilene Christian, No. 12 Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and finally McNeese at No. 15.
 
QUOTING COACH DEREK RIEDEL
"Tomorrow will be exciting! I believe both teams are coming into the conference championships running their best and confident and that's exciting to see. We've done everything we can to be ready to lay it on the line tomorrow morning to compete for championships."

"If we can execute our race plan the way we have set it up and run for each other the results will take care of themselves. We are looking forward to the opportunity to compete tomorrow!"
 
The teams will look to qualify for the 2019 NCAA South Central Regional, which takes place on Agri-Park on Friday, Nov. 9 in Fayetteville, Ark., hosted by Arkansas. The 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships will take place at LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind. On Sunday Nov. 23.
 
For the most up to date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook. 
 
Follow the team on Twitter @UIWTrackXC and on Instagram @uiwtrackxc.