LAKE CHARLES, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas men and women's cross country teams are set for a run at the 2013 Southland Conference Championships on Friday morning at Ward 3 Rec Complex.

UCA, which finished fifth in both the men's and women's races last fall, will compete with 13 other teams for the championship. The women's 6K race begins at 8:30 Friday, with the men's 8K race to follow at 9:30.

On the women's side, freshman Brooke Cassar is UCA's top runner. Cassar, from Woonona, New South Wales, Australia, has three firsts, a second and a fifth-place finish this fall, and has set numerous school records in the process. Senior Erika Setzler of Conway has been right behind her with four finishes in the Top 3 this season.

Setzler was 17th last year at the SLC Championships, while then-junior Kayla Nehus was 21st.

The rest of UCA's squad for the championships is freshman Brigette Caruthers of Branson, Mo., graduate Megan Effinger of Paddock Lake, Wis., sophomore Madison Sewell of Texarkana, Texas, and freshman Briana Stuepfert of Yorkville, Ill.    

The top men's entries for the Bears are seniors Amos Gerber of Hot Springs and senior Edward Limo of  Eldoret, Kenya. Gerber finished seventh at the SLC meet last year and has two Top 5 finishes this season. Limo, eighth last year at the SLC meet, has two victories this season, including his last outing at UALR.

Limo was 16th at the NCAA South Central Regional last year and Gerber was 20th.

Also running for UCA are junior Jonathan Burgess of Queensland, Australia, sophomore Ryan Davidson of Joplin, Mo., sophomore James Leonard of Crosby, Texas, sophomore Corentin Louis of Fratin, Luxambourg, Belgium, sophomore Albert Maeder of Norman, Okla., and freshman Grant Williams of Hot Springs.