Today is the final showdown for the Penn State women's cross country team. It's the last chance this season to outrun the competition, and more realistically, finish positively.

The week prior the squad has been getting set for the last showdown.

"We are working on cleaning and sharpening up," Alford-Sullivan said.

The 2003 NCAA National Championship is being held at the Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course and is hosted by the University of Northern Iowa.

The total number of runners competing in the race is set at 255. There are 31 teams and 38 individuals that have been selected over the past week. Many are looking to be named champion.

Last year's cross country team title went to Brigham Young University, who will make a return trip this year to defend its honor. This time around, though, the squad named the favorite to win is Stanford, Penn State women's cross country coach Beth Alford-Sullivan's former team.

Alford-Sullivan wishes the team the best and was excited it was doing so well. As for her own team, Alford-Sullivan has big hopes and wants to end the season on a high note.

The team has realistic goals for the last run though. It has a greater desire to take down Big Ten teams like Michigan State and other rivals like Georgetown than go for first place.

"We got some good standard duels," Alford-Sullivan said. "But it all comes down to finishing."