LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV cross country team will make its fifth trip to the Golden State this season with a stop in Sacramento for the NCAA West Regional Friday. The one-day meet will take place at the Haggin Oaks Golf Course, as the women's 6K will take place at 11:00 am with the men's 10K following at noon.
 
Kennedy Allen, Payton Fratusco, Grace Moore, Elisa Rovere, Avi'Tal Wilson-Perteete and Emma Wahlenmaier will represent the Scarlet & Gray in Northern California.
 
"The athletes improved their ability to pack run two weeks ago and executed a strong 2K, getting out aggressive," said cross country coach Angelina Ramos. "This week, the focus is getting out conservative and climbing the race as two distinct packs, and getting to 4K with something left in the tank in order to be assertive over the final 1000m, engaged with racing mindset versus hanging on for survival. The squad will be led by Elisa, who brings maturity to the team and a high level of attention to detail to how she approaches training and sport. They trust her to lead them tomorrow and I do too."
 
The race will feature 38 teams from six different conferences, as the Big West and Pac-12 will both have nine entrants. The Mountain West will have five of its own in the race, including USTFCCCA No. 1 Boise State. In all, there will be five top-25 teams in the race with No. 2 Oregon, No. 9 Stanford, No. 21 Washington and No. 24 Portland rounding out the quintet.
 
Sacramento is one of nine regional sites that will automatically advance the top two finishers in both races to the NCAA Championships in Madison, Wisconsin on Nov. 17. Squads that finish outside of first and second are eligible for one of the 13 at-large berths, which will be awarded by the committee.