Oct. 20, 2006

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The road back to Pensacola will begin this Saturday in Huntsville, Ala. With the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships being held at Pensacola's Escambia County Equestrian Center, West Florida's men's and women's squads will begin their quest for nationals at the Gulf South Conference Championships on Saturday.

This is the fourth time in the last six years that the conference championships will be held in Huntsville. The women's 5K race will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the men's 8K race at 10:00 a.m.

Senior Michael Padilla (Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS) leads an Argonaut men's contingent that is looking for their first GSC championship. Two weeks ago, Padilla won his third race of the season at the 8K Florida State Invitational. Padilla has finished in the top 10 in each of the last two GSC Championships, and he finished in the top 20 as a freshman. West Florida won the Columbus State Invitational and finished third at the NCAA Division II Pre-National meet and the FSU Seminole Invitational.

Senior Lauren Brooks (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake HS) was the top Argonaut finisher in each of the five races this season. One of her best performances of the season was a 10th place finish at the NCAA Division II Pre-National meet in Pensacola. West Florida won the Columbus State Invitational, while finishing third at the pre-national meet. The women are looking for their first conference championship since 1996.

The top ten finishers will be automatically named to the All-GSC First Team, while the 11th through 20th finishers earn second team honors. The individual who records the best time in each meet earns a special award. The true freshman with the best time will receive GSC Freshman of the Year honors. The GSC Coach of the Year award will be selected by the head coaches on Monday.