By Mason Nesbitt, Sports Information Director

The Master’s University men’s cross country team’s quest for a ninth consecutive conference title and 14th straight nationals appearance will be split into two distinct parts.

The Mustangs, who released their 2018 schedule, hope early dates at the Mark Covert Classic and UC Riverside Invitational provide a soft landing for six new recruits.

Then, after its home meet, the team will close the year with three meets in October and November when the chips will be down and the new guys, hopefully, will be ready to rise up.

It all starts Sept. 1 at Cal State Fullerton’s Mark Covert Classic in what Schroeder referred to as a “dress rehearsal.” The coach said one of the biggest adjustments for the freshmen will be transitioning from 5,000-meter races in high school to 8,000 in college.

“There’s a learning curve associated with that,” said Schroeder, whose team also returns a core of five veteran runners. “We have a huge recruiting class on our men’s side, so we want to have enough competition to help our athletes make that jump.”

The goal is that the first two meets will set the stage for a strong showing at The Master’s University XC Invitational on Sept. 29 at Central Park in Santa Clarita. Schroeder expects the majority of GSAC teams to attend because it’s the same course that will host the conference finals in November. It will be, in essence, a preview of the finale.

“That’s going to be a major high point of the year,” Schroeder said of his team’s annual home event, which has grown into the largest combined college and high school meet in Southern California.

Schroeder hopes another high point will come at the Warrior Invitational in Rocklin, Calif., on Oct. 20. The coach would like to see his team capitalize on what he considers a flat and fast course and position itself to earn an at-large berth to NAIA nationals. Of course, the Mustangs are set on winning their ninth straight GSAC title on Nov. 3 (which would secure an automatic bid to nationals). But Westmont College won’t make that easy.

The Mustangs beat Westmont by one point at last year’s final, and Schroeder believes the Warriors will be hungry for revenge in 2018.

See the full 2018 schedule here.

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