The University of Alabama cross-country team will host the NCAA South Regional Friday at the Harry Pritchett running course in an all-day event. The event will bring 46 different universities to Tuscaloosa, all fighting for a top-three finish to determine who will compete in the NCAA Championships in two weeks against qualifiers from eight other regions.

The men’s team will run a 10k, and the women’s team will compete in a 6k. Florida State won both races as host last year, but sophomore Parker Deuel said having home field advantage isn’t always a good thing.

“We feel like we have something to defend, but on the other hand, it offers a challenge,” Deuel said. “You don’t want to get too emotional [or] too excited that first mile and get real jumpy about things just because you are at home.”

At the SEC Championships the women’s team finished sixth and the men’s team 11th.

“We may have left a little bit on the table at the SEC meet,” coach Dan Waters said. “We weren’t disappointed, but we know that we are better. This weekend, we are focusing on the best that we can be.”

Waters said he has seen his team become more focused since then.

“Since the SEC Championships, we have just been working on our recovery and just trying to prepare ourselves mentally, not just physically,” Deuel said.

While the men’s team has won regionals five times in the past eight years, the women’s team is looking to prove itself this year. Sophomore Meropi Panagiotou said she is confident this year’s team is better than last year’s.

“We had a good week of training last week, and I think, especially as a team, we are ready,” she said.

Although they have had success in the past, the men’s team is also looking to bounce back after finishing 14th at last year’s meet.

“They are going to surprise some people this year,” Waters said.