TYLER, TEXAS – The UT Tyler cross country programs head to Lawton, Oklahoma for the first postseason run of the season this weekend.
 
THE RACE
 
This year's conference championships will be hosted by Cameron. The women will be running a 6K while the men will take part in a 10K. The women's race is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. and the men will get started at 10:30 a.m. The race will consist of a 2K loop, where the women will complete three laps and the men will complete five.
 
THE YEAR SO FAR
 
Both teams have left their mark on the year so far. The men's program has a pair of top five finishes, and one of those was a victory in their most recent event at the Mississippi College/ Watson Invitational. The women's program has a pair of top 10 finishes and has shown steady improvement all season long.
 
PREVIOUSLY AT THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
Last season saw the Patriots run in their second LSC championship event. The men went on to post their best finish of third place. All five of the scoring runners for the Patriots men placed in the top 30 of the event. Leading the way last season in 12^th place and finishing with All-Conference honors was Angel Contreras.
 
On the women's side of last season's event, UT Tyler finished up in ninth place. Two Patriots women finished in the top 25 of the 110 person field. Leading the way for the women's program was Natasha Carcano, who finished in 18^th position.
 
BUILDING ON TOP PLACEMENTS
 
The previous time both teams competed, the Patriots produced some stellar results. On the men's side, the program would come away with a team victory in a field of top Division I and Division II talent. The men placed four runners in the top 15 of the final standings, and Contreras led the way with a second place finish. The time of 25:18.8 will go down as the fastest 8K in school history for Contreras.
 
The Patriots women also produced a seventh place finish in a strong field of Division I and Division II competition. The Patriots placed 4 scoring runners in the top 50 of the event. Leading the way was Carcano, beating her personal best time in the 6K by 20 seconds.
 
NEXT ON TAP
 
Following the Lone Star Conference championship meet, both Patriots programs will head west to Lubbock, Texas on Saturday, November 6^th. There they will take on the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championships for a spot in the national championship race.