The cross country season is rolling along and almost at the postseason. Every meet has been a step along the road to the New Jersey Athletics Conference (NJAC) championships, regionals and the final.

Possibly the most important stop is coming up for the women’s cross country team: the Inter-Regional Border Battle.

“We have some top ranked teams coming in,” Head Coach, Derek “Ringo” Adamson said. “This meet, it’s growing. Most of the teams coming in know how good the course is.”

The race is one of the biggest in the state and in all of Division III cross country.

Adamson stressed how this race would be a great warmup and indicator of what the Atlantic Regional race in November will be like.

“It’s another high caliber race for us,” Adamson said. “You’re trying to get that tune up, get that mindset of what regions is going to be like. In a field like this Saturday, you’re going to be looking at a good 300 plus runners in the women’s race. It’s like a stampede. You gotta feel your way out as your going on. It’s all about the numbers game, where you are in the pack. There’s no letting up.”

Each race has raised the intensity as the season has gone along, preparing the athletes for the big race feel of NJAC championships and regionals. The Inter-Regional Border Battle can be seen as an almost direct warmup to the intensity and size Rowan will experience at regionals.

Adamson has no doubt his squad will be up to the challenge.

“For them now, you’re in an environment like that with all eyes on you,” Adamson said. “There are two things you can do. You either run fast or you croak. I don’t think they are going to croak, they won’t fold. I don’t think this bunch will.”

Everyone will see just how ready the team is Saturday Oct. 19 in Logan Township at the Inter-Regional Border Battle.

For comments/questions about this story, email sports@thewhitonline.com or tweet @TheWhitOnline.