CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University men and women's cross country teams will try and put it all together for the Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships, Saturday, on the Vaughn's Gap Course at Percy Warner State Park in Nashville. The men's 8K will kick off at 9 a.m., followed by the women's 5K at 10 a.m.

Going into the 48th running of the men's cross country championships, three-time defending champion Eastern Kentucky is considered the prohibitive favorite. The Colonels are currently ranked eighth in the Southeast Regional by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and own the top two times in the 8K.

For Austin Peay, sophomore Enock Langat will be counted on to lead a banged-up squad at the championships. Senior Andre Braima and sophomore Boniface Yator will need stellar days to help the Govs take home a title.

"Every runner on the guys side is banged up in some way," said head coach Doug Molnar. "I don't know if we have the horses to stay with Eastern Kentucky this year, but with all these injuries we've added a degree of difficulty."

On the women's side, three-time defending champion Eastern Kentucky has looked strong this season again but will be challenged by an up-and-coming Murray State squad in the 31st running for the women's championship.

For the Lady Govs, sophomore Janelle Avery looks to better her 29th place finish in last year's championship. She will be aided by the return of senior Shamai Larsen, who injured her knee at the Evansville Invite and did not finish.

"Larsen's knee is fine," said Molnar. "She wore a brace for a couple of days and is ready to go."

Molnar suspects that injuries won't be the only thing the Govs are battling during the race.

"The biggest factor will be weather," said Molnar. "The course is already muddy and an additional two inches of rain is expected. We've just got to soldier through."

- AP -