Home field advantage applies to the LSU cross country team this weekend as the Tigers host the LSU Invitational at Highland Road Park.
The LSU Invitational is the only home meet of the year for the Tigers. The meet begins at 8 a.m. with the women’s 6K race.
Coach Mark Elliot said LSU should capitalize on the opportunity of running on familiar territory.
“Anytime you do anything at home, you’re more familiar with whatever you do,” Elliot said. “In this case, you’re more familiar with the course.”
The men’s team finished in fifth place last weekend at the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga. Andrew Huston paced the Tigers, finishing the 8K race in 24th place with a time of 27:21.10.
The Tigers earned the No. 14 ranking in the NCAA South Central Regional cross country rankings, which were released Wednesday. LSU has finished in the Top 5 in all three meets this season.
The women’s team finished in eighth place last weekend at the Bulldog Invitational. Katie Denton led the Lady Tigers in the 6K meet, finishing in 25th place with a time of 19:49.56.
Although the Lady Tigers have finished in the Top 10 in the first three meets this season, Elliot said there is room for improvement.
“I think we’re in the learning curve,” Elliot said. “The case for any coach in any sport is for everybody to compete well on the same day. If all of them run what they’re capable of running on the same day, then we should do well.”
Elliot said he is encouraged at the opportunity for both teams to fare well this weekend, based on the level of competition participating in the invitational.
“There are a couple out-of-state teams, but the the majority are in-state teams,” Elliot said. “We should do well on both sides.”