CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Northwestern State cross country teams will be powered by the ocean breeze when they compete at the Southland Conference Championships on Friday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The women's 6K race will start at 9 a.m. with the men's 8K beginning at 10 a.m.

The men worked up to the championship-level distance at Texas A&M two weeks ago.

Sophomore Payten Vidourek paced the Demons, as he has for all four meets this season, with a 26:31.40 at Texas A&M.

First-year coach Richard Fisher said Vidourek has set a positive example for the extremely young team as Vidourek is the only male to have competed in a SLC Championship before.

"The younger runners look to Payten to pave the road, and they are really learning a lot from him," Fisher said. "We're really building on the culture that's been set this season, and this conference championship meet serves as progress just to get that experience.

"For Payten personally, he wants to break the 26-minute barrier, and if he does that, his place in the meet will reflect that."

NSU didn't compete in cross country in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, electing to focus on the distance portion of track and field with its cross country runners in the spring of 2021.

Vidourek clocked a 27:25 at the 2019 SLC Championships to finish 85^th as a freshman.

At Texas A&M, freshman Beau Melancon finished second on the team for the first time this season (27:35.60), followed by freshman Blake Glorioso (28:00.10) and sophomore Xavier Wilson (28:11.80).

New additions Dextrell Parks and Jailyn Carter are getting their collegiate legs under them as Parks competed in his second race this season and Carter his first at Texas A&M.

The women will compete for the first time in a month.

Junior Olivia Sipes is the only Lady Demon to have experienced the SLC Championships before, clocking a 28:51.20 at the 2019 event.

Sipes has been the Lady Demon pace-setter in each of the first three meets this season.

"We've had some injury setbacks this season, but we're looking to go out and execute our race," Fisher said. "We're finding our stride, and this meet serves as a benchmark and stepping stone.

"Our female runners are progressing by leaps and bounds, and I can see their confidence growing with every race. I'm excited about this week, but I'm really excited about the future of both teams."

Sophomores Leah Thompson and Jazz Rasouliyan have been with the program for nearly two years despite Friday being their first championship experience.

Junior Erin Wilson and freshman Janeen Cullen are new to college cross country and adjusting to the sport.

The women have been working their way up to the 6K championship distance, participating in a 5K in Lake Charles on Sept. 25.