Kingsville – It's postseason time for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville men's and women's cross country teams, who are in Fort Worth for the Lone Star Conference Championships.

The Javelinas will be in familiar territory, competing on the same course as their most recent competition - the DBU Old Glory Gallop. At that final tune-up, the women finished 20th while the men took home 18th in fields of 40 teams each.

The women's race is slated to kick off the day with a start set for 9:00 a.m..

"Our women's team has been coming along very well this year," Assistant Coach Zachary Hall said. "I think we have hit our stride at the right time, we've been crushing teams over the last K all year, so I'm excited to see what happens with that extra K. I challenged our women to match what last year's team did at conference, I think we can do that."

Last year's team made history in more ways than one, running the fastest team average in program history while also having two runners finish in an All-Conference placement for the first time since at least '06. The men's race will follow shortly after, set for a 9:45 a.m. start.

"For the men, we have struggled getting out fast at races and getting boxed in," Hall said. "This will be the smallest field we have run in all year. So I believe that they will be able to get out better. Our men have also been crushing teams over the last 3K. I believe the smaller field size will help us out. I challenged the men to try to finish in the top three, which seems crazy from where we were three years ago when I started."

The men will be led by a talented roster looking to make a statement at the conference meet. The British connection of freshman Leon Doran and sophomore Kristian Green will look to pace the Javelinas on their biggest stage yet.

At the DBU Old Glory Gallop, the Javelinas featured strong performances from sophomore Roberto Alejandro (68th), freshman Jacob Rivera (111th), junior Abner Villanueva (114th), and freshman Josh Perez (128th). This mix of experience and youth will look to catapult the men into title contention.

"This young squad has the potential to finish top four if we run well and podium if everything goes our way," Hall said. 

That proposed top-four finish would be the first for the men since the '04 season. 

The women will be led by senior Ivanova Yanes, the most decorated distance runner in Hog history, who will be running in her final conference championship for Kingsville.

The Javelinas will have the depth they need after promising finishes at the DBU Old Glory Gallop from freshman Kayla Trevino (101st), sophomore Yaritzy Acosta (130th), junior Ella Hester (131st), and sophomore Samantha Presas (176th).

The stage is set for the Javelinas to make history in Fort Worth. Follow along here for all the latest updates as the Hogs chase the title.