COLUMBIA, S.C. — Though it will not be in Baton Rouge as originally scheduled because of complications from Hurricane Katrina, the LSU men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Championships in the new location of Columbia, S.C.
The meet, moved after the hurricane to the University of South Carolina’s Hilton Field, will begin with a men’s 8K race at 8:30 a.m. CST followed by a women’s 6K race at 9:30 a.m.
Last year’s winners included Arkansas on the men’s side and Tennessee on the women’s. Both LSU squads hope to improve upon their 2004 performances in which the Tigers finished sixth and the Lady Tigers came in ninth.
“The conference championship is our major event,” coach Mark Elliott said. “That’s what we shoot for, to do well in the conference championship.”
LSU will face some tough competition on both sides. The Tigers race against top-ranked Arkansas, No.8 Florida and No. 20 Alabama. The Lady Tigers will see three top-30 opponents as well in Arkansas (17), Tennessee (21) and Georgia (28).
Junior Drew Haro and senior Patrick Gavin will pace the Tigers in this meet. Both finished in the top 35 in two meets this season, including a 12th-place finish by Haro in the Auburn Invitational.
“On the men’s side, if they run well we can be as high as fourth based on the ranked teams in the conference,” Elliott commented.
Junior Michelle Hymel leads the Lady Tigers, as she was their top finisher in two meets this season.
“We’re very young on the women’s side,” Elliott explained. “We’re looking to compete well there and perform how we’re capable as a team.”
Both teams will take a weekend off following the SEC Championships before returning to action in the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, on Nov. 12.