University of Wisconsin cross country coaches faithfully adhere to the mantra that the season for their teams is a build-up to the Big Ten Conference championships and what comes beyond.
To that end, they have to this point passed on competing at the Pre-National Invitational that annually shows up as a featured event on the national schedule about a month before the NCAA Championship.
Part of being a good host is being present, however. So the Badgers' top-10-ranked men's and women's teams are making an exception on Saturday when the pre-national meet takes place at the Zimmer Championship Course, also the site of the Nov.