UA Cross Country hits Aztec International

This time the destination is San Diego for the Aztec Invitational at Balboa Park.

"The first meet was a good start and we have a good feel of where we are at right now," UA head coach Dave Murray said.

Other schools participating in are UCLA, San Diego, Southern Utah, Long Beach State, San Diego State and women's teams fromUCS, Arkansas and UC Irvine.

The UA women's team finished third at last year's meet, with senior Amy Skieresz winning the individual title. The Wildcats will have their hands full this week as the sixth-ranked Razorbacks lead the competition.

"This will be a very good test for our team, but I believe we are ready to compete against them," Murray said.

The UA women's team consists of seniors Skieresz and Brooke Murphy, juniors Alison Phears, Claire Becker and Kristen Parrish, sophomore Katrin Engelen and freshmen Jennifer Burris, Cara Cline and Tara Chaplin.

The UA men's team is coming off an impressive showing at Irvine, but it wasn't as impressive as its performance at last year's Aztec Invitational.

"At last year's meet, the men took the first five places and finished with a perfect score of 15," Murray said.

The men are led by senior Abdi Abdirahman, who won the individual title at last year's Aztec.

"Bigger, stronger teams make you stronger," Abdirahman said, noting the stronger field this week.

"All these meets are just getting me ready for the national championships," he added.

Abdirahman is joined in San Diego by fellow senior Jeff McLarty, juniors Jeremy Lyon, Mike White and Micheil Jones, sophomore David Lopez, redshirt freshman Mike Cramer and true freshmen Steve Smith and Brent Pederson.

Mike Jenkins can be reached via e-mail at Mike.Jenkins@wildcat.arizona.edu.