Coming off a ninth place finish out of the 50 teams at the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational, the Vikings new target is their next meet at the Olivet Nazarene Invitational in Bourbonaiss, IL.
The Vikings will start their race at 4:15 p.m.
Head coach David Thompson is excited for the girls to practice together and support each other through this large race.
“I feel pretty good,  and I think being a meet so large,  it will give us some opportunity to work on pack running,” said Thompson.
The Vikings have ran well throughout the season, having won their season opener at St. Ambrose and the non-Division I section of the Bradley Invitational. The team has been led by senior and captain Bailey Kerschieter in both position and place.
While Kerschieter has been the top runner, she knows what she could have done better and needs to  focus and improve on in practice.
“The last race (Bradley) I went out harder, so this coming meet I would want to go out with our top pack of girls and work together,” said Kerschieter.
While they were at home at the Saukie Golf Course, the Vikings had a lot of support from their families, friends, and alumni coming out to support them.
“At home, we were all excited, they’re excited to be running at home with friends and family,” said Thompson.
Not only will the transition from home at  the Saukie Golf Course to away at the Aspen Ridge Golf Course in Bourbonnais, Il be a new challenge, but this will also be the first time for the current Vikings to have run at the Olivet Nazarene meet since 2013.
“It might have a bit of an impact mostly because a lot of us haven’t raced at Olivet Nazarene yet so we aren’t exactly familiar with it,” said Kerschieter. “But, I do feel confident in the team that we have built thus far and I know we have the drive and talent to do really well, even on a course we may not be familiar with.”
Although the Vikings started the season off strong, head coach Thompson knows there are still lessons to be learned going into Olivet Nazarene.
“With every meet, here on and out, the competition is going to get a little better,” Thompson said. “We’re using that experience to understand that we have to run our own race.”