GUNNISON, Colo. --- Western Colorado cross country is back in action on Saturday as they head to Canyon, Texas to compete at the South Central Regional Championships. Women's 6k race is set to start at 9:30 a.m. as the men's 10k race is scheduled to follow at 10:45 a.m.
 
A total of 34 teams will be selected for the NCAA Championships, scheduled to take place Saturday, November 23rd in Sacramento, California. The top three teams from each region race automatically qualify, along with a selection of 10 at-large teams who will be selected by the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Committee.
 
Additionally, a minimum of 24 individual athletes per gender will be selected to also compete at the NCAA Championships. If an individual places top five at regionals they automatically qualify, along with the top two individuals who are not qualified on a team will be invited. The last eight individuals will be selected at-large by the committee.
 
On the men's side, racing for the Mountaineers on Saturday will likely be Taylor Stack, Charlie Sweeney, Max Sawyer, Evan Sutherland, Gage Mayo, Ryan Outler, and Ricky Esqueda. Also traveling with the team will be Ross Husch, Riley Howard, Woodrow Murray-Wood, and Parker Vanlandingham. The men's team is coming off of a third place finish at the RMAC Championships, where Stack and Sweeney took second and third.
 
The women's Western Colorado team will likely race Alexia Thiros, Alexa Rodriguez, Malindi (Lindi) Congour, Katie Doucette, Alyssa Tatum, Hannah Mae Gigstad, and Bailey Sharon at the South Central Regional Championships. Also traveling with the team will be Alizabeth Williams, and Amelia Strahan. The women's team also placed third at the RMAC Championships as they held a tight pack and placed their top five between 11th and 22nd place.
 
Regionally, both Western Colorado men's and women's team rank third in the South Central Region. Going into the weekend the men's team ranks fifth in the nation just behind No. 1 Colorado School of Mines, No. 2 Chico State, No. 3 Adams State, and No. 4 Grand Valley State. The women's team ranks sixth in the nation behind No. 1 Adams State, No. 2 Grand Valley State, No. 3 Colorado School of Mines, No. 4 Chico State, and No. 5 U-Mary.
 
Awards are to be presented immediately after the second race for recognition of top runners and teams. The top-25 in each race will be considered All-South Central Regional performers.
 
For the men's 10k race they will complete two, two-kilometer loops and two, three-kilometer loops, the women's 6k race will consist of two, three-kilometer loops.
 
After the race visit GoMountaineers.com for results and a full recap.