After a win in Iowa City at the Hawkeye Early Bird Invitational, the men’s cross-country team took a break from competing.

“We wanted to get back to training, to be honest,” said ISU men’s cross-country coach Jeremy Sudbury. “We had a really nice training block. This meet will hopefully give us another opportunity to learn our skill, in regards to pack running.”

This week’s meet in Lawrence, Kan., will provide the Cyclones with a preview of many Big 12 schools and will help the team see where it stands in regards to the teams it will be facing later in the season.

“Any time we run up against Kansas, they’re a great program and a great tradition and history, so running against them at their home course,” Sudbery said. “We’re excited about mixing it up and competing with them.”

This break has provided the team with stability to continue its training program and gain confidence with this meet.

“Every day coming to practice, getting ourselves together to have another training day,” said redshirt senior Brian Llamas. “We’re not going to do anything special for these upcoming weeks, just keep it the same. If we keep doing that, I think that’s how people have success.”

The Rim Rock Classic will take place in Lawrence, Kansas at 9 a.m. on Oct. 3. The Cyclones will face teams like Kansas, Nebraska, Cal State Fullerton and New Mexico State.