Palatine, IL: The Harper College men's and women's cross country teams will compete in the NJCAA Region 4 Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Hawk's Haven on Harper's campus, as the Hawks look to close out the championship portion of their seasons with strong performances on their home course.
The meet marks the first time in more than a decade that Harper has hosted the regional championships, bringing teams from across the region to compete for individual and team honors. The championships also serve as an opportunity for several Harper sophomores to be recognized for their contributions to the program. The men's team enters the meet as the defending Region 4Â and NJCAA Division III national champion, looking to continue its success against a competitive regional field.
Ryan Golden has led the Hawks throughout the season, establishing himself as one of the team's top performers. Golden finished 47th in the men's White 8K at the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 16, running 25:47.9. As he prepares for the regional championship, Golden said maintaining a positive mindset has been one of his biggest challenges.
"Mentally, I've been trying to go in with a positive outlook, and that's been hard as of lately. The odds are very much stacked against us, but as the future King of the Pirates once said, 'As long as I'm alive, I have infinite chances.' I know no matter the outcome, there is another chance, and we will bounce back," Golden said.
Sebastian Welc, a returning All-American, has also been a consistent presence near the front of the Harper lineup. Alongside Golden, Welc will be an important part of the Hawks' effort to compete with the region's top teams.
Mozart Ontiveros and Ethan Waddell will also play important roles as Harper looks to put together a strong team performance. Ontiveros has continued to develop throughout his first collegiate cross country season, while Waddell brings valuable experience as a returning All-American.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Ontiveros said his main focus is trusting his preparation and staying competitive throughout the race.
"Mentally, I'm focusing on trusting the training I've put in throughout the season and staying confident in my training. During the race, I want to focus on responding to moves from other competitors, staying competitive, and staying in the race by covering the right moves."
Welc also enters the regional championship feeling confident after experiencing a strong few days leading up to the race.
"Going into regionals I am feeling good. I've felt a lot better than usual these past few days and am hopeful I will have a great race. I also am excited to see how the rest of the team does."
Kevin Martinez, Nestor Sanchez and Fernando Velásquez add further depth to the Hawks' lineup. With every runner contributing to the team's overall score, their performances will be important as Harper looks to challenge College of DuPage and the rest of the regional field.
Martinez enters Saturday's race with two personal goals: setting a major personal record and helping the Hawks finish ahead of DuPage.
"For Saturday's regional meet, a successful race for me personally would be two things. First, a major PR that could hopefully help the team. Second, passing as many DuPage guys as I can, allowing us to be ahead of them," Martinez said.
At the Bradley Pink Classic, Harper placed 19th in the men's White 8K with 517 points and an average time of 27:34. College of DuPage finished 16th with 463 points and an average time of 26:53.
As the Hawks look toward nationals, Sanchez emphasized the importance of finishing the season strong and building confidence as a team.
"It's really important to finish the season strong because we've worked hard all year to get to this point. Winning regionals would give us a huge confidence boost and help us build trust in ourselves and each other heading into nationals. It would show us what we're capable of as a team and give us even more motivation to compete at our best. We want to carry that momentum into nationals and finish the season on a high note."
With the national championships approaching on Nov. 14 in Huntsville, Alabama, Saturday's meet will be an important test. The men's team will aim to defend its regional title.
The women's 5K is scheduled for 11 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at noon. Spectators are welcome to attend the meet at Hawk's Haven and support the Hawks as they compete for regional honors.
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