Sept. 15, 2005

COMMERCE - After making steady progress in the first two races on the season, the Texas A&M University-Commerce cross country teams will head to Joplin, Mo., Saturday for the nationally recognized Missouri Southern Stampede.

Head coach Pat Ponder thinks it will be a good test for both teams for a meet that features a handful of regionally ranked schools. "It's going to be a great meet with all the quality competition," he said. "I think our guys and girls will be up to it."

The Lions will be competing against 33 universities and junior colleges. There will be seven teams from the South Central Region competing at the event, including Lone Star Conference rivals East Central, Southeastern Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma and University of Central Oklahoma.

Also taking part in the even will be Division I powerhouse Arkansas.

Chase Snowden and Ryan Dirickson, the top school finishers in last week's meet at UT-Arlington will be competing along with other Lion men, while Niki Williams and Kara and Andra Bickel will be leading the Lion women.

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