On Friday, the St. Edward's Hilltoppers cross country teams will lace up their running shoes to compete in the Texas Tech Opener. Lubbock's plains are said to be so flat that one could see their dog run away for three days, but the Hilltoppers still aren't counting on smooth sailing. 
 
"Everyone I've talked to says it's a technical course. Lubbock isn't very hilly, but apparently, they found the hilliest part of the city to design a cross country course," St. Edward's Head Cross Country Coach Steven Cary says. "I expect it to be challenging, but I'm excited because we've been challenging ourselves exponentially over the past month."
 
The Hilltoppers hit the ground running in August, ramping up each week. In the team's season debut at the Southwestern-Concordia Opener, St. Edward's maintained a heavy workload up to the day of the race with an emphasis on learning to race tired. 
 
"We're really strong right now and haven't backed off on training. The mileage is good, the weight room has picked up, and the volume and intensity are still high," Cary says. "We're keeping people healthy, but we also want them to be uncomfortable and still go out and perform." 
 
Two weeks ago, the race at Southwestern University served as a soft open for St. Edward's in a few ways. The race's shorter 5K length was an excellent way to ease into the season, even as the extra running afterward was a good reminder not to take things too easy. The Hilltoppers also withheld several of the team's top returning men's and women's runners, giving some younger runners center stage. 
 
The younger Hilltoppers got invaluable experience competing against the University of Texas, among other teams. 
 
"The biggest thing they learned is the level they need to reach to compete. Having UT there was nice because they got to see what that looks like," Cary says. "I won't say how far ahead their goals are, but it helped put things in perspective, and they also built some confidence. Some of them got their first meet out of the way and can now focus on what they must do to improve." 
 
Friday's race will be more akin to diving into the deep end. Texas Tech hosts the meet on the campus of Lubbock Christian University. The NCAA Division II South Central Regional will be on the same course in November. The field also includes fellow Lone Star Conference teams Eastern New Mexico, Lubbock Christian, West Texas A&M, Angelo State, and Western New Mexico for both men's and women's teams and UT Permian Basin's women's team. 
 
"We're taking as many people as we can this weekend with the idea everyone gets to see the regional course. That way, if at some point any of them find themselves in our top seven, they've seen it, they've run it, and they're confident with the familiarity," Cary explains. "I'm excited about the meet, getting everyone together, and getting to preview the course and other teams in our region." 
 
St. Edward's does have several runners who ran in Lubbock the last time LCU hosted the NCAA Regionals in 2021. DYLAN SEQUEIRA clocked a 32:25.8 in the 10K to lead a Hilltoppers team that included NICHOLAS GONZALEZ (33:19.5), OMAR GUZMAN (33:51.3), and SEBASTIAN KORAN (33:53.0) on the men's team. FAITH BROTHERS finished the 6K race in 22:36.4, leading a women's team that included MIA SANCHEZ (23:46.9), CAROLINE WILDRICK (24:03.5), JORDAN SANDERS (24:07.5), TAYLOR LATZA (24:19.4), and MAGGIE RITTMEYER (25:02.4). 
 
"[The returners] are giddy. They're ready to go, ready to race. Watching their teammates race a few weeks ago made them hungrier," Cary says. "Getting on the road with everyone on the bus and staying in a hotel with your teammates just brings everyone together. The energy on the team is different. I'm excited to see our entire team and go from there." 

The men start at 8:15 a.m., followed by the women at 8:40 a.m. Live results will be available through liverunningresults.com.