Sept. 15, 2010

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels cross country team returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 18, in the 30th Annual UCR Cross Country Invitational hosted by UC Riverside in Riverside, Calif. The Invitational is slated for a 7:30 am start and for 5000m (5k). It will take place at the UCR Agricultural Operation Course, which is adjacent to the university's campus.

The course is 85 percent flat with a few rolling hills and hard packed dirt and situated around 100-year old orange groves and eucalyptus trees.

"This is a meet that we have gone to every year that I've been here," noted head coach Tony Houchin. "That puts our performance into historical context and allows us to compare this year's performance with teams of the past. We are going to see where we are and what kind of work needs to be done between now and the Mountain West Conference Championships. I expect us to run better this weekend than we ever have here before."

The Rebels will have their full accompaniment of runners available led by Lauren Petersen, who finished in fifth at Northern Arizona's George Kyte Invitational two weeks ago with a time of 18:45.3. Joining Petersen in Riverside will be Courtney Allen, Alison Bartosch, Lucy Beuster, Jamie Fratto, Ali Motor, Sarah Muniz, Shannon Simpson and Samantha Swan.