On Friday afternoon, the Southwestern University Pirates men's and women's cross country teams will host Schreiner University, Sul Ross State, and Texas A&M Kingsville for one final tune-up meet before the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championships next month. 

Head Coach Steven Cary intends to use the event as an opportunity to prioritize technique and strategy over results. 

"It's going to seem like a small, almost practice-like environment," Cary said. "I'd like us to think of this as a glorified workout and kind of help each other out." 

Assisting in that will be a reprieve from the scorching Texas sun with the forecast calling for morning showers giving way to a windy day with temperatures in the low 60s at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, Texas, where the women begin at 4:30 p.m. and the men at 5:15 p.m.

For the men, the course features a small loop and two big loops. The women's course covers two big loops. 

"It's all soft surfaces with grass the entire way," Cary said. "There's a downhill start and downhill finish with undulating terrain in between. It's not a slow course but it's definitely an honest one.

"This course is a bit more wide open with long straightaways and only one spot with a tight turn, so it's a great opportunity to get in rhythm and go."

The Pirates previously finished ahead of Schreiner University, the lone conference opponent in the meet, at the Our Lady of the Lake University Saints Invitational, which featured a more technical course with tight turns. 

Cary stated the focus for the Pirates would be staying in a pack as a team rather than individuals cutting loose for personal bests, building the depth of the roster in search of a higher team finish in conference. 

"I just want them feeding off each other, pushing each other," Cary said. "In races, the field does spread out a little more but just from the standpoint of gaining confidence, it helps to be running around your teammates."