LUBBOCK, Texas (November 5, 2021) – Teams from around the south central region will descend on Lubbock this weekend, as Lubbock Christian University hosts the 2021 NCAA South Central Regional Cross Country Meet at the LCU Cross Country Course.
 
Both the Chaps and Lady Chaps will be in competition at the meet, trying to qualify for the National Championships. The women's 6K race will begin at 9 a.m. and the men's 10K race will start at 10:15 a.m.
 
This will be the third time this season for both teams to run a meet on their home course. The LCU Cross Country Course sits on what was formerly Chaparral Ridge Golf Course. The conversion for cross country use began in 2017 and has been driven by LCU's director of cross country and track Nick Cordes. It features running thoroughfares which are more than 25 feet wide throughout, a permanent finish line and a starting line that is over 295 feet wide.
 
The Texas Tech Open was held on the course in September, with the Lady Chaps placing fifth as a team and the Chaps taking eighth. LCU's women also ran well at the D-II Preview, which was on the course in October, where they placed second. The Chaparrals took second at that meet as well.
 
Lubbock Christian's women's team is coming off a solid fifth place finish at the Lone Star Conference Championships, where they also rank a 6K race. Marissa Perez and Madelyn Merrell led the way for the Lady Chaps, finishing in 25^th and 26^th, respectively.
 
Three other LCU women placed in the top 50 individually at that meet with Ayse Allison in 30^th, Sky Sena in 40^th and Chloe Trull in 41^st.
 
On the men's side, Chap runners will be upping the distance to 10k after running 8k courses most of the season Noah Villarreall was the top Lubbock Christian finisher at the conference championships, and he has been LCU's top finisher at all but one meet this season. The Chaps finished 12^th overall there.
 
Zack Hammond and Carlos Barraza also finished in the top 50 individually at the LSC meet. Barraza placed third the last time he ran on LCU's course for a meet, posting a time of 26:46.01 at the D-II Preview.
 
Both races will be live-streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital network and live results will be available as well.
 
For those athletes who qualify, the NCAA Cross Country National Championships will be held at The Abbey Course in Saint Leo, Florida on Nov. 20.