FORT WORTH, Texas – The Midwestern State cross country team returns to AP Ranch on Saturday morning for the LSC Championship. The starting gun is scheduled to fire at 9 a.m.

The top 15 finishers will earn all-conference honors, while the top finishing freshman and newcomer also garner accolades.

Midwestern State is ranked No. 9 in the South Central Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and the Mustangs are the second-highest ranked team in the Lone Star Conference. West Texas A&M is No. 2 behind Colorado School of Mines.

The Mustangs finished second in a field of 40 at the DBU Old Glory Gallup two weeks ago at AP Ranch, but that was a 5K race and the conference championship is a 6K event.

"We have an extra 'K' on it, but I think knowing what to expect is always a good thing," head coach Kelsey Bruce said. "I think it gives them a little bit of confidence that they know what to do on it."

During the 5K race at AP Ranch, 10 racers posted a personal best in the distance, led by Ella Pando's time of 18:01.27.

Pando's impressive time was enough for 14th place in a field of 340 runners, clocking a new personal best and the 2nd fastest 5K time in program history, based on available records. Teammate Jadyn Dangerfield was just behind Pando, coming in 15th place with a personal record 18:03.12. A trio of Mustangs crossed the line in quick succession shortly after, as Grace Pineda (27th, 18:23.05), Rosalene Reyes Perez (29th, 18:25.07), and Konnar McClendon (31st, 18:26.78) all posted a career best time. Perla Flores (40th, 18:35.90) and Lula Nolen (18:42.90) rounded out the scoring for MSU in personal record time.

The Mustangs have shown very well in all four regular season meets, including a win at the Mustang Derby, which featured eight programs last month. MSU was third out of 10 teams competing at the season-opening Aggie Duels hosted by Cameron. 

Midwestern State also ran at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree and finished 12th among 19 teams overall, but MSU was third among the Division II schools at the meet, which Brigham Young won. The Mustangs finished just behind Incarnate Word and ahead of Oral Roberts, UT Tyler, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma City, Lubbock Christian, Southeastern Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma.

Bruce wants her team to maintain the same mindset that they have displayed throughout the season for the conference championship.

"We talked about doing just exactly what we've done all year, just to compete and to have fun competing," Bruce said.

Much of the teams' success this season is due to the contributions of the senior class.

"We have six seniors that have been with us for four years. They've invested a lot into it, and they believe in what they do."

Bruce says the team enters the meet on Saturday full of confidence.

"Definitely having some good races does give them confidence, but we know conference is always very, very competitive, and we respect everybody that's in the field."

Midwestern State has won seven team titles in the 41-year history of the event.

West Texas A&M won the Lone Star Conference championship last year, and Sarah Koomson of WT returns to defend her individual women's title. 

Next on the schedule is the South Central Regional at Walking Stick Golf Club in Pueblo, Colorado, on Nov. 8.