Home field may be a big advantage in many different sports, but in cross country the advantage lends itself to its participants in more way's than just fan support.

Whether it be avoiding a ditch here or making a quicker cut on a turn there, the advantage is that much more for a Lady Lion over her opponent.

"For most of us, it's our third year running here and we're really familiar with the course," junior Kim Kelly said.

And with all of this being considered, the No. 5 women's cross country team should have a slightly above excellent shot at being undefeated after tomorrow's Spiked Shoe Invitational. The Lady Lions will try for three in a row at its home invitationals beginning at 10 a.m. at the Intramural Field across from Rec Hall.

That is unless West Virginia, Lehigh, St. Joseph's and seven other expected schools, none which are presently in the top 25, can fend off a highly ranked and highly experienced Lady Lion team.

And comparing what the Lady Lions did last weekend on an unfamiliar course, with a thrashing of Michigan State and No. 16 Arizona, it would be hard not to expect a lop-sided first-place finish tomorrow.

"We are really working hard this race for when we meet second ranked Georgetown and many other top 25 teams in a 40-team meet at Fairfax, Va., next week," Coach Teri Jordan said. "But we are not looking past this meet, we're using it as a building block."

With the George Mason Invitational looming next weekend, Jordan will be expecting an impressive win before they enter the inter-regional play of the next couple meets.

And with a phenomenal seven Lady Lions placing in the top eight last weekend, the pressure is off for the immediate return of last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year Colleen Glyde, who, according to Jordan, is not yet ready to run.