Oct. 26, 2005

COMMERCE,TX - Several runners from the A&M-Commerce men's and women's cross country tream will continue their season next weekend at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships in Abilene, Texas. Lone Star Conference school, Abilene Christian, will play host to the meet that will consist of schools from the Mid-American, Heartland and Lone Star Conference.

A total of nine runners will comepete for the Lions at the meet. Senior Ryan Dirickson, who has had an outstanding season will lead the pack along with top runners Logan Bowman, Caleb Reynolds and Matt Snowden. Other men competing for A&M-Commerce are Amos Davidson, Jessie Rodriguez and Michael Snowden.

Last week at the Lone Star Conference championship, the men came in fifth out of 10 teams competing. Dirickson came in 12th place with a time of 27:33, while freshman Michael Snowden placed sixteenth with the time of 27:48. Caleb Reynolds and Logan Bowman finished 23rd and 24th with times of 28:28 and 28:29.

For the women, two runners will go out and compete. Niki Williams, who has led the women's team all season will make stride for the Lions along with Kara Bickel.

At the LSC meet last Saturday, the two finished right behind each other at 10th and 11th respectively. Williams clocked in with a time of 24:10, while Bickel came in at 25:42.

This is the eighth year under Head Coach Pat Ponder that the cross country team will compete at the NCAA Division II South Central Region meet. The best performance that an A&M-Commerce cross country team currently holds dates back to 1999 at the Fort Hays meet, where the women place fifth overall in the region.

Starting times for the Regional Championships for the women are at 11a.m. and for the men at 12 noon.