NATCHITOCHES—Many cross country fans in the Southland Conference are going to be paying attention to Natchitoches, as Northwestern State hosts the NSU Pre-SLC Meet on Friday.

The women's race starts at 6:15 p.m. and the men's race starts at 6:45 p.m. Both races start behind the soccer field and finish between the soccer field and Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex.

It is the only collegiate meet taking place in Natchitoches prior to the SLC Championship meet next month.

This is the first meet at NSU since 2014, when it also hosted the SLC Championships.

"We're feeling good," head coach Payten Vidourek said. "This is the first time we've ever had a home meet since I've been here as a coach or player. It is nice to have it at our own course. Obviously, we have hosted state cross country, but it will be very special to host this meet, and of course, conference."

Among the schools participating are fellow league members Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and McNeese, as well as Louisiana Tech.

"It will be a really good measuring stick," Vidourek said. "SFA is always really good, and Lamar has always been really solid and McNeese, we just ran against a few weeks ago. So, it will be nice to have them as a measuring stick, seeing people we'll compete at conference with."

The two runners who have led the way for both the NSU cross country teams are Lalaina Wood on the women's side and John Klein on the men's.

Klein, one of the two upperclassmen on the men's side, has had a fantastic start to his final cross country season, posting two top three finishes in the first two races this season at McNeese and UT-Tyler.

He is coming off a second-place finish at the UT-Tyler Cross Country Opener in the 8K, clocking a 25:58.8. He only was behind a runner from the host school, UT-Tyler.

Klein also finished third at the McNeese State Opener and second among runners who scored, as the top competitor ran unattached.

"John has been overall a great leader," Vidourek said. "This year, he has really brought the team up. Being the oldest guy on the team, he has set a good example for the freshmen and sophomores."

After missing the first meet of the season in Lake Charles due to illness, Wood came back to lead the Lady Demons, clocking a personal-best 20:52.9, shaving more than three seconds off her previous best from two years ago.

"Lalaina has been great so far," Vidourek said. "She ran a PR in the 5K in the last race, on a course that was very muddy. It proved she is in very good shape, and I am looking forward to seeing what she runs at our home course."

In his first two races for NSU, freshman Andrew Kent has impressed, finishing eighth in his first meet at the McNeese State Opener before placing 44^th in his second race at the UT-Tyler Invitational.

Gracie Evers came in second among Lady Demons both meets, clocking a 26:18.93 in the 5K at UT-Tyler and 15:00.54 in the 3K at McNeese.

She finished behind Wood at UT-Tyler and newcomer Thea Ring at McNeese, as Ring ran a 14L53.47 in the 3K.