With the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championship just one week away, the cross country team traveled to the Dallas Baptist Invitational on Oct. 12.

The men fielded a full team and finished the meet in seventh place. The women were able to field only four runners.

According to Head Coach Paul Garvey, the team ran well considering the conditions.

“They ran very well as a team,” he said. “The course was very sloppy so that affected the times, but it was a very good meet.”

Mike Gulotta, history junior, led the ‘Pack with a 10th place overall finish in a time of 29 minutes and 12 seconds.

Management freshman Nick Bousquet came in 30th with a time of 31:20. Joe Kutner, computer informations systems and music senior, finished in 31:55, three places behind Bousquet.

Rounding the field on the men’s side of the course, communications freshman Anthony Ortenzi came in 53rd, recording a time of 34:26.

International business sophomore Andrew Lecocq-Fell crossed the finish line in a time of 35:19, good for 57th overall.

According to Kutner, it was a good race for the team before the conference meet.

“I don’t think that anyone wanted to kill themselves before the GCAC meet,” he said, “but everyone ran and competed hard.”

On the women’s side of the course, four runners crossed the line for the ‘Pack.

General studies sophomore Natalie Sargent led the way with 20th place finish in 22:20.

Kim Kujanek, general studies freshman, followed Sargent with a time of 23:01, good for 26th place. Broadcasting freshman Sara Miles St. Clair came in 30th with a time of 23:32.

Rounding out the field, Beth Robinson, French junior, crossed the line in 48th place in 26:09.

According to St. Clair, the team ran fairly well on the course.

“The course was really muddy, but I liked it a lot,” she said. “Natalie did really well.”

The ‘Pack’s season hits the home streak this weekend with the GCAC championships held at the Lakefront on Saturday.

According to Garvey, the course should be fairly similar to the one in Dallas.

“It is going to be wet because honestly, it has not dried out from the hurricane,” he said. “The grass is going to be high, and that will affect everyone’s times.”

St. Clair feels the team will compete well against the main GCAC competition such as Xavier, Spring Hill and the University of Mobile.

“I think that we will be better motivated for this meet because everyone wants to repeat as champions,” she said.