CLARKSVILLE - After showing marked improvement two weeks ago, Austin Peay State University women's cross country team returns to action following its off week with a 11:30 a.m., Saturday, five-kilometer race in the Fast Cats Classic at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, Ky.

Saturday's race will be the Lady Govs final opportunity to consolidate their ranks before the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in two weeks. Austin Peay will square off against 11 other women's teams, including regional foe Belmont.

While the Lady Govs placing did not improve at the massive Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, Oct. 2, they showed definite signs of tightening their ranks - a goal throughout the season. With junior Janelle Avery leading the way for the first time this season, the Lady Govs saw the time between their five finishers fall below two minutes for the first time this season at the five-kilometer distance.

"Our goal for the women is to really get out hard the first mile and continue to push it through two miles and let our strength take over from there," said APSU cross country head coach Doug Molnar. "We'll have to mix it up early with them.  We'd also like to push our 1-5 gap below two minutes. Last time out we really improved in that area and we'd like to continue to keep pushing the front pack up and decreasing that gap."

- AP -