The St. Thomas men’s and women’s cross country teams will be competing at the MIAC championship on Oct. 29, at Como Golf Course in St. Paul. The women’s race, which is a 6K, will begin at 2:15 p.m. and the men’s 8K race will start at 3:15 p.m.

Women’s cross country

Last year the women’s team placed second out of 11 teams and was beat by St. Olaf. St. Thomas will face St. Olaf for the first time this season at the MIAC championship.

St. Olaf is not the only team that St. Thomas will have its eye on. Carleton, St. Ben’s and Gustavus are also going to be tough competition for the Tommies.

“We will do our best to keep up and keep them in sight,” junior Taylor Berg said.

Women’s cross country coach Joe Sweeney is expecting great results from his runners this weekend, especially from Berg and sophomore Erin Statz.

“I expect them to really lead the charge for us and be tough up-front runners again,” Sweeney said.

Men’s cross country

The St. Thomas men’s cross country team came in fourth out of 11 teams at the MIAC championship last year.

This year the men are in the top tier of the MIAC conference and hope to see a finish in the top four.

“Fourth or better would be solid,” Pete Wareham, men’s cross country coach, said. “Certainly we want to do as good as we can and try to win it, but we’re a little younger than some of those other teams.”

Wareham said St. Olaf, St. John’s and Hamline, who took first place last year in the championship, are the teams the men will be watching out for in the championship.

All-American senior Ben Sathre is confident about the upcoming meet.

“I feel great. I’m not even going to taper for this week,” Sathre said. “I think I should be able to win easily. I’m not too worried about that.”

Olivia Detweiler can be reached at detw5520@stthomas.edu.