10/30/2008 After months of preparation and competition, the 2008 Big West Cross Country Championships will be held this weekend at the Agricultural Operations Course in Riverside. The Highlanders of UCR will serve as the host for the 40th edition of the men's race and the 26th running of the women's competition.

On the men' side, preseason favorite #23 Cal Poly looks to claim its fifth consecutive Big West championship. The Mustangs are coming off a seventh place finish at the NCAA Pre-National meet in the last event their top runners. Daniel Gonia has stepped into the lineup and produced the second-best 8K time in the conference and won two Athlete of the Week awards. With experienced veterans such as Evan Anderson, Joe Gatel, Troy Swier and Jeff Lease on the roster, the club is poised to add another conference title.