Oct. 12, 2007

OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley cross country teams have their final tune-up before the Independent Championship as the Wolverines head to Cedar City to run in the SUU Color Country Classic held at Cedar Ridge Golf Course.

"Competition is always pretty good at this meet," UV head coach Scott Houle said. "Since a lot of the runners that compete are local, there are a lot of fun rivalries."

This is the fourth consecutive year UV has made the 200-mile trip down I-15 to compete in the meet. Like the previous three years, the Wolverines will be running against Southern Utah and Idaho State. There is the possibility of a fourth school competing.

This year, Houle expects the meet to be very competitive.

"This is the best women's team that we have had," Houle said. "SUU has a good team with one of the top runners in the nation and Idaho State's young team is very good, too."

With the meet only featuring three teams, scores will be a lot tighter. Houle expects the women's race to be very close.

On the men's side, the three teams should also be matched evenly.

"We have a young team with a couple of veterans so does Idaho State," Houle said. "We feel that Chase Englestead should finish first, second or third."

The SUU Color Country Classic also gives Houle a chance to return and compete against his alma mater. Houle's team also faces off against his brother, Chris' Southern Utah squad.

"Its fun to come back to where I graduated from and face off against my brother," Houle said.

The meet is the final local meet that Utah Valley will run. The Wolverines will have next week off before traveling to Texas for the Independent Championships in two weeks.