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Runners Ready To Hit The Road
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After weeks of conditioning, strength training and pounding the pavement locally, Escalon's cross country runners will finally get the chance to taste some competition this week.

The squads are scheduled to head to the Lodi Invitational at Lodi Lake today, Wednesday, Sept. 1 for a 3:30 p.m. meet.

"It's an all-division meet, we'll see schools from Division I, Division II," said Escalon head coach Rick Heflin. "It's our first meet and you like to get that first one in."

Weather forecasters are calling for temperatures in the upper 80s to mid 90s on Wednesday, with a northwest wind gusting up to 15 mph.

Heflin said he is looking forward to seeing the runners out on the course, competing against other schools.

"We have a lot of new blood this year," he said. "It's not a huge squad but we've got some new, positive kids. There's not a lot of negativity here."

Some experienced runners will be back to anchor both the boys and girls teams, with the squads also looking for the depth that will be key to winning.

The Trans-Valley League preseason meet is next Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Legion Park in Modesto. The runners then have a couple of more preseason meets and invitationals before kicking off the league season. They will host Livingston, Patterson and Ripon Christian at Escalon on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. for the first league action of the year.