THIBODAUX, La - The Nicholls State University men's and women's cross country teams will participate in the Alabama Crimson Classic this weekend in Tuscaloosa at the  Harry Pritchett Running Park.

26 schools will be competing in the event this year, making this the largest field the Colonels will have faced this year. The men will be trekking the 8K course beginning at 8:30 a.m., while the women's 5K event will start at 9:10 a.m. Saturday morning.

Nicholls will be competing for the first time in two weeks after the women won their second meet of the year at the Cowboy Stampede, where Jessica McLeod set a new women's 5K school record with her time of 17:52. The men's team finished fifth overall paced by Sebbie O'Neil's 29th place finish and have two top five finishes in 2011.