The Miami University men's and women's cross country teams have something to prove at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. After a disappointing third place finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship Oct. 30, the women's cross country team is fired up for regionals, hoping to earn a top three finish Saturday in Rochester, Mich. Following a second place finish at the MAC championship, the men's team is ready to take on its first and only 10K race of the season and beat some top-ranked teams.

The 2010 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship is held at Ketke-Cousins Golf Course at Oakland University. Last season, the regional championship was held at Indiana University, where the women's team, following a second MAC title, placed 8th, and the men's team placed 14th. How teams are picked to go to the NCAA championship held Nov. 22 is a perplexing process. First, regionals is split into nine different regions: Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West. The top two teams from each region automatically advance to the championship. Then, there are 13 at-large bids awarded to teams based on season results, the team's place at regionals and if that team has won against a school that has beaten a team already advancing to nationals.

If they are unable to place in the top two Saturday morning, that is the way the women's team wants to go to nationals, senior Katie Lenahan said. The 'Hawks are putting their heartbreaking finish at the MAC championship behind them and are ready to return to Michigan and prove they can place in the top three alongside other top-ranked schools.

"The goal is for everyone to run the best race they can on Saturday," Lenahan said. "As a whole we haven't had that yet this season. Mostly we've just been getting fired up from MAC's, and now we're really just focusing on mentally preparing for this race."

The women's cross country team will lace up with 30 other teams at 11 a.m. Nov. 13.

After a rough 14th place finish last season due to illness and injury, the men's cross country team is both physically and mentally prepared for the 10K race Saturday.

Redshirt junior Chris Dennison didn't appear to be too concerned about the change in length of the race.

"The 10K is nice because you can run at a relatively slower pace and we're a team that can catch people in the end, so having that extra 2K will be helpful." Dennison said.

Redshirt freshman Matt Marol, who runs the 10K during track season, isn't bothered by the 10K either.

"This year we have a solid group of guys who are experienced with the longer distance —10K compared to 8 — and we have been consistent all throughout the season," Marol said. "That mindset to do well even after MAC's is still there."

The men's cross country team will run at noon Nov. 13 following the women's 6K race.