MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Waco, Tex., Friday, Oct. 28 to compete at the Big 12 Championships hosted by Baylor. The meet will be held at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course with the men’s 8K race beginning at 10 a.m. followed by the women’s 6K race at 11 a.m.

Head coach Michael Smith says that if his runners can compete at the level that they are capable of, then there should be opportunities for individual success. The men’s team will look to improve on their eighth-place finish one year ago.

“I think that our men are healthy and ready to go,” commented Smith. “I would say that a majority of them could set personal-best times at this meet. Where that places us in the scheme of things depends on the efforts of our younger runners.”

Senior Joseph Moore will look to again lead the Wildcat men’s team as he has done all season. After last season’s 45^th-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, Moore will try to push for a top-25 position this year. Moore’s best 8K finish so far this season came at the Woody Greeno on Sept. 17, placing 10^th with a time of 25:37.

“I expect Joseph (Moore) to lead us once again,” said Smith. “Behind him, freshman Alex Umberger could make a top-40 run. If he runs at the high level he’s capable of, senior Christian Smith could be right up there with Alex.”

The K-State women’s team will welcome a new face to their lineup this week in freshman Liliani Mendez. Mendez, a native of Dorado, Puerto Rico, will see her first action of the season after battling injury. Senior Christina Lara will also make a return to the lineup after missing the last two races. Lara competed at the Woody Greeno, Sept. 17, placing 72^nd.

“Overall, I would expect our teams to compete at the best level they can compete at,” said Smith. “We will beat the teams we can beat. I want to leave the meet knowing that K-State is on the right track to move up in the Big 12 standings.”

Results from the Big 12 Championships will be posted at www.k-statesports.com as soon as they become available.