SPC begins cross country season at West Texas A&M Invitational

LEVELLAND, Texas - The South Plains College cross country season will begin when they travel to Canyon Friday afternoon for the West Texas A&M Invitational. Both the women and men will race the 5,000-meter distance with the women's race slated for 5:30 p.m. and the men soon after at 6 p.m.

Both teams have a lot to be excited about entering the season as the Lady Texans and Texans both return a lot of experience from last year's squads.

The Lady Texans return last season's NJCAA national meet runner-up in both the cross country and half-marathon championships in addition to Tiffany Matthews who earned All-America honors at last season's cross country championships with a 28^th place finish. Kirsten Taylor also adds leadership with a 43^rd place finish at the 2010 NJCAA national cross country championships.

On the men's side, Kemoy Campbell returns and will attempt to improve upon his runner-up finish from 2010. Roblet Muhudin also earned All-America accolades with a 13^th place finish at the NJCAA championships.

Eighth year head coach Chris Beene says he is using this early season meet to see where his group is with their training.

"I am evaluating our fitness at this point," Beene says. "I also want to see how tough we are. I want us to get up in the race and compete until the end."

Beene gave the impression that fans will likely not see his number one squad for either the men or the women.

"Kemoy (Campbell), and Natoya (Goule) probably will not run this meet. Tiffany Matthewsand Kirsten Taylor will be our two sophomores I am expecting to run well on the women's side.

"On the men's side, Jonathon Lira looks really good and so does Bretton Villarreal. I think Isacc Placencia will run well too."

The meet will be contested at the Don Harrington Camp in Canyon Friday, September 9.