The women's cross country team was ranked No. 23 in the nation in the newest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll released on Nov. 6. No, not the Golden Eagles women's cross country team, but rather the Wisconsin Badgers cross country team.

Why is this relevant? Because the Badgers are the team that the Marquette women are going to have to beat at the Great Lakes Regional this weekend if they intend to go to the NCAA Nationals on Nov. 19. It is a long shot at best, but it is also the Golden Eagles only shot.

"We raced against them at Pre-Nationals," said head coach Mike Nelson. "They beat us pretty good."

Regardless of past races, hope remains for the women. The system works like this: The top two teams at the regional meet in each of the nine regions earn a spot at nationals. Add the 13 other teams who have earned the most at-large points during the season and you have a total of 31 teams competing in Terre Haute, Ind. at the NCAA Nationals.

Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles have only a slim chance of beating the top two teams in the Great Lakes Region, which are Michigan and Michigan State.

There is, of course, a loophole. If a team like Marquette, who is ranked fifth in the Great Lakes Region, were to beat a team like Madison, who is ranked third and has plenty of at-large points, Marquette would automatically get taken to Nationals along with Madison, replacing another team who earned an at-large bid.

"Say we beat them and get third (at regionals)," Nelson said. "Wisconsin has earned enough at-large points. They're going to get into Nationals. Well they can't take them and not take us because we beat them at the qualifying meet. So we would get bumped in."

The only other team in the region ahead of the Marquette women is Notre Dame.

"They finished quite a ways in front of us at Pre-Nationals," Nelson said. "They weren't too far in front of us at conference. Twenty-four points actually. So we're hoping to get a little bit of revenge on them and beat them this weekend at the regional meet."

While everyone loves a little revenge, beating Notre Dame won't bring the Golden Eagles any closer to Nationals.

"I don't think they have earned any at-large points throughout the year," Nelson said. "So we would have to beat Wisconsin."

To accomplish this, the team is changing its workout regime as most team's do near the end of the season.

"We are beginning to peak," said sophomore Anna Weber. "That means we are doing higher intensity and less volume on our hard days and very easy 'easy days.' Also, we have cut out our morning run and lifting sessions to give our body some more time to rest and recover."

Nelson's first season as the Golden Eagles' head coach will by no means be considered a failure. But since the men's team has an even slimmer chance of going to Nationals, hope rests on Weber and the women to muster an upset on Saturday.