Lady Bison Run at 8:30 AM Saturday

(Live coverage on FloTrack)
SHAWNEE – From the time they moved in a week earlier than usual, the women's cross country team has had Saturday in mind.
 
Due to projected poor weather, the start time has been moved to 8:30 a.m.

The Lady Bison get on a plane Thursday and will journey to the course as the first Oklahoma Baptist team to compete at a national NCAA event Saturday at the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championship in Evansville, Indiana.
 
"We moved in early and from that time, all through the season, there has been a lot of self-sacrifice and a lot of work put into getting to this meet," said OBU Coach Matt Kennedy.
 
Coming into the meet as the No. 18 team, there are few illusions of walking away with the championship. There are, however, expectations of making a statement.
 
"This first national meet is going to be a learning experience," Kennedy said. "You have to crawl before you can walk. That being said, we have been in some big meets and our girls have run fast when it mattered most."
 
OBU got its first taste of the six-kilometer distance at the regional and finished well enough to get one of eight team at-large bids to the National. While that distance is different, the Lady Bison get the advantage of running on a course that is much like what they've seen all year.
 
"It's pretty much a flat course and that works to our advantage," said Kennedy. "The regional course was brutal. This course is more like what we are accustomed to running on."
 
The seven Lady Bison making the trip are Abby Hoover, Sydney Lawrence, Kaylee Crowson, Emily Sechrist, Tesa Potter, Daisy VanMeter and Megan Allen.
 
OBU has a chance, Kennedy estimates, at getting some All-America performances.
 
"I think we can possibly get some All-America performances. That's top 40 and I think we have some athletes that can do that. Abby and Sydney are probably our two best chances at All-America. Kaylee has a shot and Emily is solid. Tesa and Daisy will probably be our five and six and Megan Allen is our No. 7 runner, based on what we've seen this season."