The Wayland Baptist women's cross country team is the heavy favorite to walk away with its second straight title at tomorrow's Sooner Athletic Conference Championships at Oklahoma Baptist's Gordon Cooper Technology Center. The Pioneers are currently #6 in the NAIA, the highest-ever ranking for a Pioneer team.

The main competition for the WBU women will mostly come from OBU. The Lady Bison are ranked 37th in the NAIA and will almost certainly have to win the regional to advance to the NAIA Championships. The Pioneers beat OBU by 110 points two weeks ago.

"I don't really think anyone in the conference can beat our girls right now," said WBU Coach Brian Whitlock. "Our goal is to place all seven of our runners in the top 10. Realistically I know we can get five and probably six, but our target is seven."

Not only are the Wayland women the favorite team to win the regional meet, but sophomore Caroline Karunde is the odds-on choice to capture her second individual championship. Karunde's main challenge will most likely come from her teammate, freshman Purity Biwott.

When the Pioneers last ran at the NAIA Mid-States Classic, Whitlock hoped to see Karunde break the 17 minute mark. Karunde accomplished that goal, establishing a new school record with a 16:46, but Biwott was right behind her, running a 16:57. On Saturday, Whitlock has targeted the course record of 16:48 for his top two runners.

Seniors Erin Britton and Kydia Echols, who is running for the first time in over month due to a foot injury, will be running in their final conference meet. The two finished fourth and fifth a year ago. Also running for the WBU women are Elva Pedroza, another senior who also earned All-Conference honors last year, and freshmen Selene Lopez and Katie Roland.

The Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma Baptist men are the favorites to battle it out for the men's title, according to Whitlock. "OC is ranked higher right now, but OBU will be tough to beat on their home course."

The Wayland coach believes that he has a couple of runners who could possibly qualify for the national meet.

"Kirby [Dunn] is coming off an injury that has really set him back, but I think we have two freshmen who, if they run like they are capable of running, could qualify.

Dunn, a junior, is the only upper classmen on the Pioneer men's squad. He will be joined by sophomores Kail Kidd and John Keith, and freshmen Luis Pena, Michael Sandoval, Lucius Lopez and Skylar Lovett.

The conference meet begins with the women's race at 9:30 a.m. The men will begin at 10:15. The champions of both divisions will receive automatic bids to the NAIA Cross Country Championships to be held Saturday, Nov. 22 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.