RICHARDSON – The UT Tyler men's and women's cross country teams are set for the 2011 American Southwest Conference Cross Country Championships this Saturday on the campus of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas.

The women will run a 6K and begin at 8 a.m., while the men will compete in an 8K with a start time of 8:45 a.m.

The 14-team women’s field consists of Concordia Texas, East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, LeTourneau, Louisiana College, McMurry, Mississippi College, Ozarks, Schreiner, Sul Ross State, Texas-Dallas, Texas-Tyler and Texas Lutheran. Hardin-Simmons is the defending champion. HSU sophomore Lindsey Hinton won the individual crown with a conference-record mark of 23:14 but will not return this year.

McMurry senior Alaisha Guerra owns the conference’s top time in the 6K this season with a 23:37.01, just edging Concordia Texas sophomore Megan Wagenaar’s mark of 23:37.76.

For the Patriots, Ginny Murphy holds the top 6K time so far this year with a 24:57 at the Texas DIII Championships. 

The 13-team men’s field will be composed of Concordia Texas, East Texas Baptist, Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, LeTourneau, Louisiana College, McMurry, Mississippi College, Ozarks, Schreiner, Sul Ross State, Texas-Dallas and Texas-Tyler.

UT Tyler is the defending champion and has won five of the last six conference titles. UT Tyler’s Jeff Chandler won the individual crown as a junior with a 26:20.00 and will return this year.

Chandler holds the ASC’s top two times in the 8K this season with a 25:44 and 25:59. UT Tyler and Ozarks have each posted team wins. The Patriots claimed the Texas Division III Championships in Abilene, Texas, on Sept. 24, while Ozarks hoisted the trophy on its home course in Clarksville, Ark., at the Arkansas Division III Championships on Oct. 19.

NOTES: Free admission. . . . The awards presentation will be at approximately 9:45 a.m. . . . The last time Texas Lutheran served as the host of the ASC Championships was in 2008. . . . New ASC member Centenary is not eligible for ASC or NCAA postseason meets. . . .  Mississippi College has won the most combined ASC cross country team (15) and individual (14) titles. . . . The NCAA Division III Cross Country South/Southeast Regional Championships, which are open meets, will be on November 12 and also take place in Seguin, Texas, hosted by Texas Lutheran. The national championship races will be November 19 at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisc.