The women's cross country team has abandoned the third time andis now hoping that the fourth time will be the charm.
The team has been runners-up for three years, including lastyear, in the Mid-American Conference Championship, but they willhave another chance Saturday.
"We're tired of second," head coach Sue Parks said.
The team will compete in the MAC Championship meet at MayfairCountry Club in Green, Ohio. The meet will feature 13 teams, withToledo being the favorite to win.
Ball State, Miami and Akron will be considered the chasers,Parks said.
"For anyone to knock off Toledo, they're going to need a greatday by five runners," Parks said.
Workouts for the team have gone very well the past two weeks,and the team is also fortunate to have everyone healthy and no onetired.
"Based on our practices, everyone is running well," Parks said."We're coming on at the right time."
The team has not performed as well as they could have in thelast two meets. They finished 23rd at the Pre-NCAA meet and 11th inthe Notre Dame Invitational.
Those meets won't matter much, though, Parks said.
According to her, the MAC meet is a "whole different ballgame."
Last year in the championship, the team placed second behindToledo. Senior Crystal Meeks finished 8th in the race, and juniorJill Scully finished 15th.
Parks said success this year depends on the top three runnersplacing within the Top 10 to 12 and the next two finishing before25th. Parks said both Meeks and Scully should have a chance tofinish within the top five.
"I think the positives are there," Parks said. "What I need tosee is there. I think we're running well. We just need to put ittogether and have a total team effort."
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