NATCHITOCHES—Following a grueling season, the Northwestern State men's and women's cross country teams wrap up their fall season with the Southland Conference Championships.

The teams don't have to travel far to compete, either, as NSU hosts the meet on its campus Friday morning.

The women kick off the meet with its 6K race at 8:32 a.m., followed by the men's 8K race at 9:32 a.m. Both races can be viewed on ESPN+.

"It will be very nice to run at our course," head coach Payten Vidourek said. "All the guys and women are waking up in their own beds. It's almost like a regular practice. Day in and day out, we've been practicing on that course. We've been on the course a lot, which I think will show with the placements of everybody."

Both races start behind the soccer field and finish between the soccer field and Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex.

It is the first time since 2014 NSU has hosted the conference meet.

Competing in his final conference meet of his career, John Klein aims to put a bow on a successful career with the Demons. Klein has placed in the top 12 in four of the five meets during the pre-conference races, including in the top three on two occasions. That includes a personal-best 25:58.8 in the 8K at the UT Tyler Cross Country Opener, finishing second.

"It's a bittersweet moment for sure with it being my final cross country race," Klein said. "I am glad I can have it at home. I'll have my family and friends here and hopefully I can perform well and put out a performance I am proud of."

In the NSU Pre-SLC Cross Country Meet last month, Klein finished in 10th place, clocking a 19:07.3 in the 6K race, which featured some of the conference's best distance runners.

"I am really excited," Klein said. "This is the first time we've hosted it since I've been here. We've trained on that course all year and we know every pothole, every curve, everything about it. I think that will work to our advantage Friday, so we're ready."

While Klein has led the men, junior Lalaina Wood has consistently been the top finisher on the women's side.

Wood has led the Lady Demons runners in every race she's participated in. The Oak Ridge native has been at her best as the season has gone along, recording personal bests in each of her final three meets of the season, in three different distances.

In the last race at Mississippi College, she ran a 24:28.4 in the 6K on Oct. 17.

"Lalaina has been doing great every single race," Vidourek said. "Ever since her injury, she has gotten better each race she runs in. Obviously a huge PR at McNeese and then followed that up with another PR in the 6K at Mississippi College.

The two leaders help guide a group of young athletes, especially on the men's side, as freshman Andrew Kent is making his SLC Championships debut.

In his latest race, Kent clocked a 27:29.8 to finish 78^th in a loaded field, beating his previous 8K best by more than a minute, set at UT Tyler on Sept. 6 (28:39.7).

Selton Sanders is also making his conference meet debut, coming in off a personal best in the 8K at Mississippi College as well, running a 30:37.9.

Kent has routinely finished second, only to Klein, among the Demons runners.

"Obviously with it being his first conference meet, the nerves are going to be there," Vidourek said. "But with us being at home, that is going to keep them down a little bit more than it normally would be. He knows what he is going into, and he is prepared, and I think it is going to show."

A trio of sophomores—Mason Bayne, Kaden Elliott and Owen Rue—are all making their second appearance at the conference championships for the Demons, with both Bayne (28:33.9) and Rue (27:54.6) coming off personal bests in the 8K at Mississippi College.

On the women's side, Teodora Samac (31:27.1) and Mikayla Mondello (31:27.2) both ran personal bests in their last races, both at the McNeese Cowboy Stampede.

The meet concludes the cross country season before competing in the indoor track season, beginning in January.