LAKE CHARLES—For the second consecutive week, the Northwestern State cross country teams stay in-state, as they head south to compete in the Lake Charles Toyota Cowboy Stampede on Saturday on the campus of McNeese.
The meet begins at 8:30.

Nine schools overall are going to run at the meet, with seven running both genders. In addition to NSU, LeTourneau, Prairie View A&M, Southern, St. Thomas (TX), UL Monroe and host McNeese are the seven schools that are sending both genders.

Spring Hill and Texas Southern are sending just the women.

The men will be running four miles, while the women will be running a 5k.

"I am definitely seeing people more comfortable with the higher volume at this point in the season," head coach Dillon Dawson said. "Both the men and women are now racing at the distances they'll be racing at during the conference championships. Now it's just about becoming more comfortable racing at these distances."

Dawson is eager to see what the genders do at the longer distances, with the conference meet right around the corner.

"For the men, it is their first crack at a four-mile distance this season," he said. "It is just about adjusting to the new distance while also remaining competitive within the race.

"For the women, it is their second 5k of the season. After racing at that distance last week at LSU, I think they will be more comfortable with that distance. Hopefully that will reflect in the way that they race."

Ceyda Bayur has been the leader at all three meets so far, with teammate Leah Thompson right behind her.

Beyur ran a 21:55.0 at LSU in the last meet, which is a collegiate best for the sophomore, beating her previous best by a minute and a half.

Leah Thompson has finished right behind Bayur, finishing 25th at LSU with a time of 21:31.8.

On the men's side, John Klein ran a 17:57.0 to place 63rd out of 105 competitors to pace the Demons. The men did not run at LSU, but Klein paced the Demons in each of the first two meets. He paced the Demons with a 37^th place finish, clocking in at 19:37.15, in the opener.

"Their work ethic day in and day out has been impressive," Dawson said regarding Beyur, Thompson and Klein. "Not only have their performances shown that they're working hard, but in practice, they show up with a good attitude and eager to do whatever they have on their plate."

Following the meet, NSU has a week off before traveling to Texas A&M. They take another week off after that to prepare for the Southland Conference Championships in San Antonio on Oct. 27.