KENOSHA, Wis. – One of the most competitive fields in NCAA Division II cross country descends on Kenosha this weekend for the 18th annual Lucian Rosa Invitational, hosted by Parkside at the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course on Saturday, September 27th.   

The 25th-ranked Ranger women toe the line at 9:30 am for the 6,000-meter championship. The men's 8,000-meter follows at 10:15 am. The women's open begins at 11 am while the men's follows at 11:45 am.  

About the Meet: The event itself is named in honor of Lucian Rosa, a former Olympian and one of the most decorated athletes and coaches in Parkside history. During his time with Parkside, Rosa was an eight-time All-American and six-time national champion. The meet itself has grown into a fixture for Parkside, and this year, it's the biggest yet.  

"This meet is always a fun one for us to host," said Parkside Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Nick Maas. "We tend to yearly get some solid teams from all over the Midwest and this year is no exception. It's always great to recognize Lucian Rosa and his contributions to Parkside as an athlete and coach, and holding this meet allows us to do that."  

The Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course has long been recognized as one of the most challenging and authentic courses in the country, but especially at the Division II level, and this is a reputation that Maas proudly embraces.  

"Honestly, we believe it is the best TRUE cross-country course in the NCAA," he said. "A lot of other courses out there are great, but very few can say they have the tradition that ours does."  

The course includes many different aspects, such as grass, gravel, and mud, along with tough elevation changes that demand both physical and mental toughness from athletes.  

"I think it being a rolling course in the woods with several different surfaces can make it pretty challenging for those not used to it," Maas said. "The first hill in the race is always a challenge for teams, especially for the men's race, as they have to attack it twice. While the women's race is really decided in the final 2K… It's steep rolling hills that you must be prepared for."   

The Field: This year's invitational will be the largest and most competitive in large part because both the NCAA Midwest Regional and the National Championships will also be held at the same course later this fall.  

"I think anytime you are hosting a big championship, you tend to get a lot of teams that want to come out and explore the course throughout the regular season," said Maas. "So, it's no surprise that this year is a larger and more exciting field."  

29 teams are competing at this year's invitational, and among the top programs, both the defending champions from 2024 on both the men's and women's sides in Colorado School of Mines and Adams State will be competing. Additionally, there are 7 ranked teams on the men's side and 9 ranked teams on the women's side, with Parkside being 25th nationally.  

Those currently ranked on the men's side include: #2 Colorado School of Mines, #3 Adams State, #10 Saginaw Valley State, #12 Cal Poly Pomona, #21 Alabama Huntsville, #28 Illinois Springfield, and #30 Tampa.  

Those currently ranked on the women's side include: #1 Adams State, #4 Colorado School of Mines, #6 Cedarville, #12 Lee, #15 CSU Pueblo, #22 Tampa, #24 Minnesota State, #25 Parkside, and #26 Cal Poly.  

2024 Flashback: Last year's rendition of the Lucian Rosa Invitational showed the high-level racing with nationally ranked programs and strong performances throughout, including from Parkside's Rangers. In the women's 6K, Winona State came away with the team title, scoring 35 points to beat Hillsdale (62 points). Parkside and Northern Michigan tied for third with 72 points, but Parkside won the tiebreaker to claim third place in front of the home crowd. On the men's side, UC Colorado Springs claimed the team title, scoring 27 points to beat Hillsdale (40 points). Parkside took home third place, finishing with 72 points.  

Rangers Ready to Make a Statement at Home: The 25th-ranked Parkside women's team and a deep, experienced men's team both look to make strong impressions on Saturday in their first full-distance race of the season. With the comfort of familiar surroundings and no travel needed, Mass says the setup plays to their strengths: "Less distractions – we get familiarity with sleep, meals, and family around. It makes things a little more comfortable."  

Parkside's men and women return after both secured third place finishes at last year's invitational, and they both aim to build on their performances, powered by a roster of returning athletes. Maas says, "They have really come back ready in leadership and fitness-wise." Despite the national attention the women have received this season, Mass says both teams are focused on execution over rankings, "It's great, but we have a lot of work to do. Rankings are nice as recognition, but it doesn't change our focus." For Parkside, this meet isn't just about performance – it's about identity. "We are a university of chances," Mass said. "Our team, university, and athletic department are made up of people who were discounted in one way or another. We want to show we never back down from a challenge."