On Saturday, the Marquette men's and women's cross country teams travel to Terre Haute, Ind. to compete in the 2005 Pre-National Invitational, The race, held at the LaVern Gibson Course on the campus of Indiana State University, is also the site of the 2005 NCAA Championships.

The 70-team race field was split into two races, with the MU men's squad set to compete in the five-mile White Race. Six programs are ranked among the top 15 nationally and 12 of the 34 teams in the White race are ranked on the latest Mondo/NCAA Division I National poll.

“We have struggled a bit in our last two meets and this weekend will be even tougher competition, but I think our younger runners are starting to come around and I feel confident that we will have our best meet of the year on Saturday" said head coach Dave Uhrich.

On the women's side, the No. 25 ranked Golden Eagles will face a tough challenge in the six-kilometer White race. Twelve of the teams that will toe the line are ranked on the FinishLynx/NCAA Division I National poll, including six teams who are ranked in the top 15 in the country.

“We are very much looking forward to running on the nationals course and competing against some of the top teams in the country. We have been getting stronger each week and I feel like we will be very ready to go on Saturday.” Uhrich said.