In their second meet of the season, the Bobcats will get their first taste of Mid-American Conference competition.
Kent State and Ball State are among the teams traveling to Athens for Saturday's Ohio Invitational.
For the Bobcats, the home meet is a good chance for younger runners to gain experience, and to see how the team fares in conference play. For the Golden Flashes and the Cardinals, there is the added bonus of previewing the MAC Championship course.
Since we're hosting the MAC championship
I think (Kent State and Ball State) are going to be running here to get an idea of what the course is like senior Jenielle Hunt said. It's good for us to practice running with them.
Senior Kari Summers said the championship is what the team has in mind during the season.
The MAC meet is what you work for all season Summers said. (Running against MAC teams) gives you a preview of what you're up against.
Kent State is one of the best teams in the conference. Its men's and women's teams were picked to finish first and fifth in the MAC respectively, and so far they have lived up to those expectations.
On Tuesday, juniors Scott Hilditch and Alexandra Lizarribar were named the MAC Runners of the Week. Hilditch finished third, and Lizarribar, in her first collegiate meet, placed second at the Iona College Meet of Champions. The men's team won the event and the women placed fourth.
Ohio coach Clay Calkins said the upcoming home meet is an opportunity to show off Ohio's course and to match up against MAC teams.
It's going to be a pretty good-sized meet and a nice showing for the MAC (championship) course
he said. It's nice to have some of those conference teams in and go head-to-head on our home course.
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Sports
Nathaniel Maund
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Ohio University will host Kent State and Ball State this weekend in its second meet of the season. The Bobcats also are hosting the MAC Championship later this season on the same course. Matt Hatcher | FILE PHOTO
