On the heels of a third consecutive Great Lakes Region championship, the Wabash College cross country team heads to nationals in Winneconne, Wis., Saturday.
 
A week ago, Wabash edged NCAC rival Allegheny, 99-101, to again win the Great Lakes Region title. Head coach Colin Young came out of the regional with hardware of his own, taking home the Great Lakes Region Coach-of-the-Year honors in his first season at the helm of the cross country program.
 
Challenges only increase as one moves through the postseason. The 43^rd edition of the men's 8,000-meter competition will include 280 competitors from 79 institutions around the country. Regional champion institutions that join No. 10 Wabash at nationals include: ninth-ranked Claremont-Mudd Scripps Colleges (Calif.), fifth-ranked St. Olaf College, and top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
 
The Little Giants will have to overcome third-ranked and defending national champion North Central College as well, winners of four of the last six men's championships.
 
If the Little Giants want to make a run at the national title, they will have to raise their collective effort. Getting junior Mason McKinney back in the lineup certainly helps.
 
"Last weekend's performance was solid," said Young. "The key was getting Mason back. He ran tough even though he wasn't 100 percent. Without him we wouldn't have won the meet."
 
Wabash used the week to recover both mentally and physically, including a light workout on Wednesday to stretch out and open up the cardiovascular system. The team looks to stay relaxed for this weekend's national championship.
 
Wabash does have the luxury of having a deep lineup, especially now nearing full strength.
 
"If guys run smart, run together, and run tough, we will be satisfied with the results," Young said, hoping for a top-15 finish. "We focus on ourselves and running a smart, tough race. If we collectively run what we are prepared for, the Redpack will be successful."
 
Led by seniors Fabian House and Adam Togami, and sophomore Colin Rinne, the Little Giants do have big meet experience. Those factors will be crucial to Wabash as they look to improve on last year's 16th-place finish. The race begins at 12 p.m. CST at Lake Breeze Golf Club.