RICHARDSON, Texas –– The 2008 American Southwest Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships are set for Saturday (Nov. 1) on the campus of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas.

The men run an 8K and will begin immediately following the start of the women's 6K race, which is set for 8:30 a.m. TLU and head coach Patrick Zarate will serve as host of the 13th annual event.

The 11-team men's field will be composed of Concordia Texas, East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, Louisiana College, McMurry, Mississippi College, Ozarks, Schreiner, Sul Ross State, Texas-Dallas and Texas-Tyler, which is the three-time defending conference champion. The Patriots accounted for the top five spots in 2007 with junior Ben Donnan leading the way and taking his second straight individual title with a 25:46.34. McMurry finished in second place.

Donnan has two of the top three 8K times in the ASC this season with a 25:34.66 and 25:59.08. His teammate, Warren Brown, owns the second-best time (25:53.81). UT Tyler has won three meets as a team this season (UT Tyler Invitational, Louisiana-Monroe Warhawk Invitational and Texas Division III Championships), while MC has claimed two (MC Season Opener and MC Watson Ford Invitational).

The 12-team women's field consists of Concordia Texas, East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, Louisiana College, McMurry, Mississippi College, Ozarks, Schreiner, Sul Ross State, Texas-Dallas, Texas-Tyler and Texas Lutheran. Mississippi College enters as the reigning champion and has won two of the last three conference crowns. McMurry was the runner-up in 2007. TLU's Magan Saenz is the defending individual champion after running a 24:16.65 as a freshman.

Texas-Tyler's Sarah Hankla has posted the top two 6K times in the conference this season with marks of 24:53.90 and 24:56.00. Her teammate, Kamie Lynn Cook, has the third-best time with a 25:18.53. MC has won two events as a team this season (MC Season Opener and Choctaw Open), while McMurry (MC Watson Ford Invitational) and UT Tyler (UT Tyler Invitational) have each claimed one.

NOTES: Free admission. . . . The last time Texas Lutheran hosted the ASC Cross Country Championships was in 2004. . . . Mississippi College has won the most combined ASC cross country team (13) and individual (12) titles. . . . TLU will also serve as host of the NCAA Division III Cross Country South/Southeast Regional Championships, which is an open meet and will take place on Nov. 15.