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Matt Hart/ Contributed photo
MHCC runners Stacy Bird (left), Katy Echauri and Amanda Smith start the 5K run at the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College Oct. 16. The women compete Saturday in the Southern Region Championships at Clackamas CC with the women’s race starting at 11 a.m.
Cross country set for
Southern Region showdown
The Advocate
MHCC’s cross country teams have spent the week preparing for the Southern Region championship Saturday at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City.
Head Coach Matt Hart said the runners are familiar with the course, having run there at the Mike Hodges Invitational Oct. 16. “We’re increasing our speed level. We’re also working on what it takes to recover and be mentally prepared.”
The women’s 5-kilometer race starts at 11 a.m., while the men start at noon in their 8K race.
The Southern Region championship will determine the runners eligible for the NWAACC championships Nov. 14 at Lewisville State Park in Battleground, Wash.
“Each team is allowed seven athletes to participate in the NWAACC Championships. This will not be a factor for our men as we only have seven, but we will only be allowed to have seven of our nine women compete. If an individual woman wants to compete at the NWAACC Championships, they will need to be in the top seven of our team,” Hart said. “However, we will be taking all our student athletes to the championships for support.”
Hart is confident in how his MHCC runners will perform, predicting that “they will rock” as long as they apply what they are working on in practice.
Cross country team member Andrea Dittmer said the team is working as a whole to prepare for the weekend.
“To prepare for the championship, we’re all giving each other advice and pushing each other,” Dittmer said.
As for the H1N1 influenza, Hart is emphasizing certain health precautions such as washing hands and telling team members to “bring your own water.”
“I’m always concerned about athletes staying healthy,” Hart said. “That’s always on my mind.”
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