After a weekend spent training on home turf, Butler cross country will head to Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 17, for the NCAA Division I Pre-Nationals Invitational.
The University of Louisville will host the Pre-Nats meet at the E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park, the site of the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships on Nov. 21.
According to head coach Matt Roe, the women will run a partial squad, while the men will race with a full varsity team.
"Four of our top seven will run," Roe said of the women's team. "We're holding out the others to train, and running the four people that need a race right now."
Seniors Olivia Pratt and Laura Riches, junior Maddie Westerhoff and freshman Meredith Gallagher will make up the women's roster.
"This is another race moving us forward," Roe said, adding this is another opportunity to get a good race in, with everything pointing toward the postseason.
Senior All-American Erik Peterson, sophomores Bobby Johnson, Johnny Leverenz, Matt Lumbar, Billy Thomas and Harry Winter, and freshman Eric Baugh will compete for the men.
"I think we're improved from our first outing," Roe said of the men's team. "We're a young team, but I think we're ready to take another step in the right direction.
"We're excited about getting this young group out there."
Per usual, this year's meet will feature a number of country-wide powerhouse teams, many that finished in the elite ranks at last year's national championships. More than 40 teams are registered for the meet's six events.
Among others, the men are slated to face national No. 1 Colorado, No. 3 Oregon and No. 10 Georgetown.
"We're especially excited to watch Erik run against the best guys in the country, and show how fit he is," Roe said of Peterson, who took tenth overall at last year's Pre-Nats race in Terre Haute, Ind.
As for the team, "Every race throughout the season becomes more important," Roe said. "We feel like we're moving in the right direction on both sides.
"The course is in great shape; the weather's really good," he said. "It's going to be a great day for racing tomorrow."
The men will toe the line at 9:30 a.m. for the Men's Seeded 8,000m Race, while Butler's women are scheduled to race at 11:30 a.m. EST in the Women's Unseeded 6,000m Race.
Contact: Beth Werge, bwerge@butler.edu
