DENVER – An NCAA Division II cross country regional just a couple of days after a nice snow. It doesn't get any better than that.
 
MSU Denver will host about 29 other teams Saturday at the South Central Regional at Washington Park, with the 10-kilometer men's race scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and the women's 6K competition at 11:45 a.m.
 
"We train in conditions like this all the time, so I'm not worried about our team," said Amanda Rego, MSU Denver's associate head coach. "It makes it a little more challenging, but it's nothing we can't handle. I'm really confident that it gives us an advantage, and I've told our team that it's going to come down to who is toughest."
 
The top three teams in each race qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships on Dec. 2 in Seattle.
 
Beyond that, 10 more teams from around the country – so potentially several from the South Central Region – will be added to the National Championship field based on a rating system that is heavily weighted on regional results but also includes regular-season performances.
 
For individuals, the two top two in each race who aren't on a qualifying team will move on to the National Championships, as will any other individuals from non-qualifying teams who finish in the top five overall. Finally, eight more at-large selections from around the country will also move on to Seattle.
 
For the MSU Denver men, ranked ninth in what is the best region in the country, qualifying for Nationals based on a strong Saturday showing isn't out of the question.
 
"I keep telling our guys that we have a shot at making it," Rego said. "They've shown me at different points that we're more than capable of doing that – it just takes everyone have a great day on the same day."
 
Making the biggest impact individually should be Noel Lopez and JJ Ramey, each of whom has posted strong finishes throughout the season.
 
"I expect them to be pretty far up towards the front, and they've both had those kinds of races," Rego said.
 
For the men, the always-interesting transition from 8K to 10K for the postseason is something the Roadrunners are ready to approach.
 
"We've been preparing for it all season, and several of our guys – like JJ, Noel and Cory (Shea) – they focus on the 10K in track anyway, so this is totally in their wheelhouse," Rego said. "Now, a couple of weeks from now Nick Nowlen will go back into 800-meter mode, but he's bought into the 10K and wants it really bad."
 
The rest of the MSU Denver men's lineup includes Oticio Herrera, Dylan Angel Lainez and Ty Schauer.
 
Meanwhile the Roadrunners' women's team will include Abi Read, Caitlin Cornell, Audrey Orstead, Tanis Chavez, Audrynn Street and Heidi Yagen, with the final spot still to be determined.
 
"The women aren't going into this meet with the same expectations as the men because they aren't (regionally) ranked, but I keep telling them – let's go prove people wrong," Rego said.
 
While Read has led the way all season, the rest of the Roadrunners' competitors have continued to improve individually while working together in races.
 
To get an idea of the strength of the regional fields, take a look at the nationally-ranked teams that will run.
 
For the men, Colorado School of Mines is ranked No. 1 nationally, while Adams State is No. 2, Western Colorado is No. 7, Colorado Christian is No. 12, UCCS is No. 14 and West Texas A&M is No. 25.
 
The women's field includes No. 1 Adams State, No. 3 Colorado School of Mines, No. 4 UCCS, No. 7 Dallas Baptist, No. 10 Western Colorado, No. 16 CSU Pueblo, No. 18 Colorado Christian and No. 24 West Texas A&M.
 
But MSU Denver does have home-course advantage in its favor.
 
"We've done so many intervals out there," Rego said. "Although it's funny because even though we've done that, there are still so many times out there doing a workout where they are asking, 'Do we go around this or that tree?' It shows how forgetful cross country runners can be. When we travel to races, there are times where you feel kind of lost.
 
"But the fact we've been out there almost every week – and sometimes twice a week – they actually do know this course like the back of their hand. They know where there's a hard turn or where the course narrows. They know where the best places to pass somewhere are and where they should stay patient."