Oct. 31, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Owls will head to the conference championships in Macon, Ga, tomorrow, November 1, looking to improve on their second place finish last season.

Earlier in the season, on September 27, Kennesaw State placed second in the RunFit Invitational, the same course which the Owls will compete on Saturday.

To take home the title, the Owls will have to dethrone a Belmont team that has won the last two conference championships, in addition to four consecutive from 2001-04. The Owls took the title in 2005, breaking up the Bruins string of success.

Mackenzie Howe has led the Owls all season, winning two A-Sun Runner of the Week Awards in the process. On October 18, Howe recorded her best two mile time of the season, finishing the Front Runner Invitational with a time of 11:11. In the 5k, she recorded the top time in the conference this season, finishing the Auburn Invitational with a time of 17:17.47.

The Owls will also look towards junior, Soibhan Wolcott on Saturday. Wolcott holds the third fastest time in the conference this season, also in the Auburn Invitational, finishing with a time of 18:18.70.

In addition, the Owls will need to see strong performances from Kristen Gibson, Caitlin German, and Lorena Jaime if they are to contend for the top spot.

"The team is looking really strong heading into this weekend," Wolcott said. "I am really excited about how well we ran here earlier in the season, and since we have continued to improve, I am looking forward to everyone performing their best tomorrow morning."

The women's race will begin at 9:00 a.m., with an awards ceremony to follow at 11:00.

"We have to come out strong, put pressure on them from the start and see how the opposition responds," Head Coach Stan Sims said. "I hope they under estimate us."