After taking a week off following the Big West Championships, the focus for the Big West cross country squad shifts to the national stage as they head to Gresham, Oregon for the NCAA West Regional at Blue Lake Park.

On the men's side, Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara look to take the next step to the NCAA Championships. The Mustangs took the crown at the Big West meet by just four points over the Gauchos and jumped to #19 in the national rankings. UCSB, which dropped to #22 nationally after being ranked #13 in the previous poll, looks to continue its solid showing on the national stage this season. At Pre-Nationals in October, the Gauchos finished fourth in their race, besting several nationally-ranked clubs and showing their legitimacy as a national contender.

Not to be outdone on the men's side are three other regionally-ranked Big West clubs. UC Irvine, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton all look to add an NCAA berth to their 2006 season.

The women's race promises to be a tight affair as three of the top eight squads in the country are competing in the 6K jaunt. UC Santa Barbara, which is ranked seventh in the nation, will battle top-ranked Stanford and eighth-ranked Arizona State, in what promises to be a tough competition for the NCAA berths. With their top runners back in the fold, UCSB has had an outstanding season with a win at the Roy Griak, a fourth place finish at Pre-Nationals and a runaway win at the Big West Championships.

While the Gauchos are the only nationally-ranked team in the Big West, Long Beach State and UC Irvine have earned regional rankings and look to move up the field for an NCAA berth. The 49ers are in the midst of one of their finest seasons ever, including a surprising second place finish at the conference meet. The Anteaters have been strong all season long and look to move up the standings at the regional meet after competing in the race last season.