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BUFFALO, N.Y. – There's been snow, cold temperatures and the course has been moved, but it still comes down to just this one race.  The UMass Lowell cross country teams compete, Friday, at the NCAA Northeast Regional now in Buffalo, N.Y. and for a chance to go to the NCAA National Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana.

"It's what you work for all year," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "We're ready, you hope everybody has a good day on the same day."

There are nine regional meets spread across the country.  The top two finishing teams, in each region, go to the National Championship meet.  Thirteen additional teams are selected at large.  The top four finishing individual runners in each region, not on a team selected for the finals, are also invited to compete at the National Championship.

The Northeast region includes all Division I schools in New England and New York State.  In all it's expected that 38 schools will be represented.  Iona, Syracuse and Stony Brook are the top ranked men's teams in the region.  Syracuse has won the last six NCAA Northeast Regional and nine of the last ten.  Columbia, Syracuse and Boston College top the women's rankings.  Columbia is the defending Champion.  Providence, ranked fourth in the region, has won five of the last seven.

A year ago neither UMass Lowell men or women qualified for the NCAA National Championship Meet.  The men finished sixth and the women were 15th.  Former River Hawk Paul Hogan won the individual title a year ago and qualified in each of the last two years for the NCAA Championships.  No UMass Lowell woman has ever advanced to the Division I NCAA Championships.

The women will run a 6k, the men a 10k.  The 10k distance will be the longest race the men have run all year.  The women have run the 6k distance on various occasions during the season.  BUT, the question of the course itself was one that was still being worked on Thursday.

The meet was planned for the Audubon Golf Course in Amherst, New York, but that course was deemed unsafe after a heavy snowfall early in the week.  Crews from the host school, the University of Buffalo worked to clear the course, but it was to no avail.  Officials were working to establish a course on the campus of the University of Buffalo.

"I guess it's the same for everybody," said Gardner.  "But a road race is not a cross country race.  It's different running on pavement."

Among other things it means different shoes; no spikes.  On Thursday different running shoes were being transported from the UMass Lowell campus to Buffalo.

The road surface might benefit the women.  The heart of the team is made up of middle distance runners.  They are more comfortable on the track than running through the woods or grass surfaces.

Both teams, men and women, turned in strong performances two weeks ago at the America East Conference Championships on the campus of the University of Albany.  River Hawk men finished second to Stony Brook and senior Chris Alfond (Ashby, Mass.) won the individual title.  The women finished sixth, just four points out of fourth, in the nine team field.  UMass Lowell men are ranked sixth in the Northeast Region by the USTFCCCA.  The women are not currently ranked.

Gardner is hoping to see the men finish in the top five and the women in the top 15.

"The men have to run extremely wee and have everything go right to finish in the top five," according to Gardner.  "That might put us in a position for an at large bid.  We made a couple of mistakes at the America East Championships, but we can correct those mistakes.  It we finish in the top six we have a chance."

Cross country is more about the depth of a team than about an individual.  The top five runners score points and the top seven displace opposing runner.

"All seven play a role," said Gardner.  "Anyone of our top seven could be in our top five.  We do have a bit of a margin for error."

Alfond, juniors Ben Drezek (Cumberland, R.I.), Derek Holmes (Marshfield, Mass.) and Kyle Cloutier (Lancaster, Mass.) have consistently scored well for the River Hawks.  gardner is hoping to see the team put as many as five runners in the top 35.  He says it's about toughness.

"Mental and physical toughness," according to the coach.  "Mental toughness is about staying positive and not letting things get to you."

And Gardner believes the team is physically prepared.  The heavy workout period is behind them and as a group they may be more rested than at any other point in the season.  It's the first 10k race of the season, but the additional mile and a quarter should not make a difference.

On the women's side Gardner is hoping for a top 15 finish.  it would be the third consecutive top 15 finish.  The team is young and has been slowed by some injuries that has knocked a couple of more experienced runners out of competition.  Junior Emily Sessa (Tewksbury, Mass.) has turned in a series of terrific performances and earned All-Conference honors at the America East Championships.

"Emily's been running great," said Gardner.  "I'd like to see this team finish the year strong.  It woiuld give us positive momentum and set us up well for the future."

The weather is probably the best for running.  Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s and snow flurries are expected.  But Gardner feels the River hawks teams are ready to compete in such elements.

"That's the one advantage of not having an indoor track; we run outside all winter," said Gardner.  "We run in this every single day."

The season could end on Friday.  Then again the River Hawks could be at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana, Saturday, November 23, for the National Championship Meet.