CLARKSVILLE - Still seeking a strong number five runner, Austin Peay State University women's cross country team will compete at the Old Timers Classic, with a 10 a.m., Saturday, at Kereiakes Park in Bowling Green, Ky.

Hosted by Western Kentucky, the event will be another tough field for the Lady Govs as Eastern Kentucky (Southeast No.8), Western Kentucky (Southeast No. 14) and Bellarmine (Division II Midwest No. 9) enter the weekend ranked regionally by the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association. Also competing will be Ohio Valley Conference members Morehead State, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech as well as non-conference Marshall.

Two freshmen have led the Lady Govs at the season's first two races, both shorter-distance affairs. Miranda Weed paced APSU at the four-kilometer Belmont Opener and Xiamar Richards led the Lady Govs at the two-mile (3.2 km) PowerAde Invitational last weekend. Those two have been joined by junior Janelle Avery and freshman Kendra Kirksey to form the team's top four in the first two races.

However, the Lady Govs second group - sophomore Alyssa Molnar and freshmen Megan Barbarotto, Shannon Christian and Kayla Satterly - has been the greater concern early on, lagging well behind the primary group in the first two races.

"We are looking for someone to step forward and close the gap with our top four," said APSU cross country coach Doug Molnar. "Weed, Richards, and Kirksey, all freshmen, have run solid along with last year's MVP Janelle Avery, but we'll have to have someone out of Molnar, Barbarotto, Christian and Satterly to step up and be a solid number five. I know we can do that and I believe the longer distance suits us better"

- AP -