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LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell cross country teams rev their engines Saturday in a season opening cross country dual meet against Vermont at the Hard'ack Recreation Area in St. Albins, Vermont.

"There's a lot of excitement on both teams to start a new year," said UMass Lowell Cross Country Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "We'll mainly run freshmen and a few upper classmen.  This is about getting experience.  The experience of being out there are running for 26 or 27-minutes."

A year ago the women's team finished fourth in the nine-team conference championships.  The men won the America East Team title. But the past is the past.  From a coaching standpoint this weekend is just about getting the season started and gaining experience.  The men's race is an 8k, the women run a 5k.  For the freshmen the distances will be the longest they've ever competed at.

River Hawk men were ranked ninth in the Northeast Region Pre-Season Poll by the USTFCCCA, the women were ranked 13th.  

"Obviously we're pleased, it shows that our programs have gained respect," according to Gardner.  "I believe this is the first time that both programs have been ranked at the start of a season."

But Gardner is also quick to note that pre-season rankings are just that.

"It doesn't mean much once we begin racing," according to Gardner.  "You have to do your work, you have to perform."

Both teams finished out the 2018 season ranked in the top 15 in the region.

For the coaching staff Saturday is the first chance to see the teams in a competitive environment.  Gardner believes the men's team, which is looking to defend its 2018 America East Championship, is deeper than it was a year ago.  Paul Hogan who won the individual cross country title in both 2017 and 2018 has graduated, but senior Christopher Alfond (Ashby, Mass.) is healthy after being sidelined by injuries a year ago.  And after Alfond there is a good deal of depth and experience.

"All the way down the line, guys are better," said Gardner.  "One through seven or eight we're probably a little bit deeper than we were a year ago."

The men's team took a more aggressive approach to training during the summer and during their week running the trails in the Berkshires.

"With the group we have we thought it was a good opportunity to experiment a little bit and see if we could take the next step with some of the kids and with the program overall," according to Gardner.  "We decided to take a shot with it.  The results come when you begin racing."

It may take a bit longer to determine where the women's team is.  The classes are spread and the depth has been developing.

"This should be fun to watch," said Gardner.  "It may take two or three meets to see how they come together and jell.  All of these kids are super tough and that makes a difference."

A year ago Vermont men finished fourth at the America East Championships, the women finished third.

Saturday the women will compete at 12 noon, the men's 8k is scheduled for 12:45pm.