WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Koby Styles hopes for Midwestern State's opening meet aren't much different from any other meet.
"I hope we can win," MSU's cross country coach said. "We'll see how we match up with some of the best in Texas."
The Mustangs host a field of eight teams at the 4K MSU Mustangs Invitational in a twilight meet at the Memorial Athletic Complex Thursday at 7 p.m.
The field includes a whole range in levels of competition and includes the University of Texas-Arlington out of the NCAA Division I Southland Conference, strong NCAA II regional contender Dallas Baptist, conference foes Eastern New Mexico and East Central as well as NAIA Rogers State, Southwest Christian and Clarendon College.
"I think we stack up well with UTA," Styles said. "It will come down to the best fifth, sixth and seventh runners on the team."
The Mustangs are stacked at the top of the order as reigning Lone Star Conference Runner of the Year and individual champion Sydnee Cole returns to anchor lineup, but she will have company this year.
"Last year, we had to worry about our gap times between Sydnee and the rest of our runners," Styles said. "So far it's been a different order at the top in every workout as we've been great in the top four. They've been running together very well."
Junior Brissia Montalvo transfers in from El Paso Community College where she was an NJCAA All-America after spending her freshman campaign at UTEP, while freshman Ashley Flores joins the fray as a four-time state qualifier out of Haltom (Texas) High School.
Perhaps the surprise of the group is freshman Janel Campbell, who was a three-time Class 3A state qualifier out of Tom Moore High School in Ingram, Texas.
"She had decent times, but I didn't know a whole lot about her coming in," Styles said. "She's in the mix with Sydnee, Ashley and Brissia. Those four being close together is huge for team points.
The loaded Mustangs will look for a fifth countable time out of a capable combination of senior Bailey Dulaney, juniors Kayla Hendrix and Lindsey Pate, sophomores Melody Caldwell and Heather Owens and freshman Cara Mack.
Hendrix and Pate, who are both recovering from injuries, were both all-region runners while helping the Mustangs to a 15th-place showing at NCAA Division II Nationals as freshmen in 2008.