LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Cross Country Teams will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete at the 2021 Pre-Nationals hosted by Florida State University at Apalachee Park on Friday, October 15th.

The Cowboys and Cowgirls will face a field loaded with nationally ranked talent when they take to the course on Friday morning as the men will run an 8K and the women a 6K. On the men's side the 42 team field will feature 12 ranked teams including the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the country in Northern Arizona and Notre Dame. Joining them are BYU, Colorado and Arkansas who are all also ranked in the top 10. 

For the Cowgirls, they will compete in a 34 team field that includes eight ranked teams highlighted by No. 5 ranked Colorado. The women's side also features No. 10 Utah and No. 11 Arkansas. 

"Both teams are in really good shape." Said Head Cross Country Coach Scott Dahlberg. "They've taken advantage of these past few weeks of not racing and have put in some great workouts.  There will be 40 teams in the men's race with 15 teams either ranked or receiving votes, and 34 in the women's with 17 either ranked or receiving votes. Both the size and quality of this meet is what we're looking for as our last regular season meet before conference. The teams just have to keep doing what they've been doing in training and make the next step in competition."

This will be the third race of the season for the Cross Country squad and their final chance to compete before the Mountain West Championships. Last time out Wyoming Cross Country faced off against nationally ranked opponents at the Griak Invitational and turned in solid performances as the Cowboys finished fifth while the Cowgirls finished ninth in their respective 16-team fields. 

Friday's competition will feature four total races, two on the men's side and two on the women's side. The Men's Garnet will start at 6:00 a.m. MT and will be followed by the Women's Garnet race at 6:35 a.m. MT. Once those races conclude there will be two open races consisting of NCAA, NAIA and Junior College teams. The men's open race begins at 7:10 a.m. MT and the Women's open race is set to start at 7:45 a.m. MT. Wyoming will have athletes competing in each race. 

 Stay up to date with Wyoming Cross Country and Track & Field by following @wyo_track on Twitter.