Louisiana women\'s teams prepare to clash in Auburn, Alabama

It’s September 29, early Saturday Morning, race time is a few hours away yet it might as well be days as each passing minute seems to last an eternity.  As the teams pile into the various hotel cafes and nearby restaurants they can’t help but squeamishly force there breakfasts down in nervous anticipation for what lies ahead, wondering if they will once again see the breakfast they now so forcefully try to enjoy.  Cross-country season is now very much underway here in Auburn, Alabama.  In the past teams from all over the South have come forth, and for that matter the nation, to take part in this prestigious cross-country invitational.  This day is no different for in a short bit runners will be toeing the lines with the likes of Alabama’s men: ranked 17th in the nation, Florida’s women: 30th, and of course Florida State’s men and women 24th and 12th very respectfully. 

This Auburn course has had a tradition of yielding some very fast times and with the competition and adrenalin pumping this very morning the day promises to be no different.  Through the course runners will recklessly sprint for position, fly around each turn, and come near-sprint speed through the very flat terrain here at Indian Pines golf course, pushing with everything bit they have for that coveted finish that may just never seem to come. 

Being a fan of distance running here in the state of Louisiana, this meet holds a particular importance as a streak of dominance was broken at last weekend’s Tiger Cross-Country Festival in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Ever since the 2006 meeting at Highland Park the Tulane women have been excitingly awaiting the 2007 meet against the lady tigers in hopes of dethroning them of the top women’s team in Louisiana.  Well at last weekend’s meet they did just that in classic pack running style.  Led by senior Aubrey Phillips, they stormed the hills of Baton Rouge capturing the title with a very low twenty seven points to LSU’s fifty seven, putting four runners ahead of LSU’s number one runner Kate Accardo.  

The question this weekend is will Tulane be able to hold their success they have enjoyed over in state rivals and possibly even chase higher powers or might the tigers of LSU or some other unknown have something to say about all this?

As the competitors come to the line this Saturday, standing looking out over the pain and sheer exhaustion they are about to put their bodies through, there will no doubt be a very slight glance to their right or left at one another for the rivalry which may have not been known prior to last weekend but will now very much be felt as the gun gets ready to sound - will it be Tulane, will it be LSU, or perhaps some other force may be building in the north….