Having around 50 teams, including Division I schools and ranked teams, there will be a wide variety of competition for the men’s cross country team at the upcoming Brissman-Lundeen Invitational at the Saukie Golf course on Sept. 25.
In addition to Division I teams, CCIW rivals Illinois Wesleyan, Carthage, and Milikin will competining in the meet.
The vast number of teams has head coach Paul Olsen looking forward to the competition.
“I am excited,” Olsen said. “It’s one of the biggest and toughest invitationals in the country.”
Having started in 1981, this will be the 34th year the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational will be run. The course length is an 8k or 5 miles. The top 35 finishers in the race will be awarded a t-shirt.
One of the team’s top senior runner, Keith Sands, believes this is a chance they can use to stand out.
“This is also an opportunity for us to get to run on the regional course that we will be running on in November to try to qualify for nationals,” said Sands.
During the season the team follows three phases: early season, middle season, and championship season. The phases will adapt to the team’s need for improvement.
“We adjust the relationship of quality and quantity” said Olsen. “That’s the program to prepare for any meet, but we adapt [and] look where we are and we change it a little bit.”
With Sands placing 5th overall at the previous meet, the Lutheran All-American Invitational, he believes the team has a lot of confidence going into the home meet.
“Our home meet is very special, said Sands. “We have a lot of alumni and family coming to support us.”
minutes,” said Sands. “I like to keep very relaxed, and I try not to think too much about the race.”
The men will start their race at 6 p.m. after the the women’s cross country race at 5:30 p.m.