LAKELAND, Fla. – The Wichita State men's and women's cross country teams travel to Lakeland, Florida for the American Athletic Conference Championships Friday, Oct. 29. The men's 8k race is set for 8 a.m. (ET)/7 a.m. (CT) at Holloway Park, with the women's 6k to follow at 8:50 a.m. (ET)/7:50 a.m. (CT).
 
Yazmine Wright looks to keep the women's conference crown at Wichita State following a three-year reign by Shocker graduate Winny Koskei.
 
"I'd definitely like to see Yazmine come to the point of the season she's been working so hard for and take a shot at winning the conference title," head coach Kirk Hunter said. "There are some good girls in there that will be tough to beat, but she's won some big meets this year, and that puts her in a good position. She should have the confidence, so I hope she can finish it out."
 
Another Shocker woman to look out for will be Danielle Rinn, who ran a personal-best time of 21:36.30 in the 6k at Bradley Pink Classic and placed 16^th at the conference meet last season.
 
"I'm looking forward to seeing what Danielle does," Hunter said. "If she can race with the same determination that she did last year at conference, I think she'll be a very high placer in our conference this year."
 
The rest of the Shocker women are aiming to have breakout races at the conference meet.
 
"I'm hoping we get three of the other girls to bounce up there and have a breakout performance," Hunter said. "These girls have been up against a mountain before, but they have the ability to rise up at the right time."
 
The men's team has had a strong season as a team, with seven guys that could interchange at any time. The Shockers have picked up two team wins on the year and continue to work to bring guys up.
 
"I want to see our guys hit on all cylinders as a team," Hunter said. "They're prepared to come in and keep a chip on their shoulder and perform at the level that they have been this season."
 
Jed Helker has led the Shockers this season, notching an individual victory at the Greeno/Dirsken Invitational, and returns to the conference meet after earning all-conference honors at last season's championships.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | WATCH ON ESPN+ | LIVE EVENT TIMING