When the men’s cross country team opens their season Saturday in the annual Old Timers Classic, there will be no clear-cut favorites. Instead, head coach Erik Jenkins said he will be looking for a team effort.

“I’m looking at everyone to step up,” Jenkins said. “We don’t have any clear favorites. Obviously I’m looking for a quality effort. We want to be able to go out and compete hard and be able to evaluate ourselves positively and move forward.”

This is the 28th year WKU has hosted the Old Timers Classic at Kerieakes Park, which will also serve as host of the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships.

“This is … our home course,” Jenkins said. “We just want to go out and have a quality race.”

The women’s 5,000-meter race will start at 10 am, with the men’s 5-mile race following at 10:45 am.

Jenkins has been pleased with what he’s seen of the team in practice, adding that hopes it continues at Saturday’s meet.

“We’ve got a good cohesive team,” Jenkins said. “I think the guys will run hard together. I feel the same way about our women’s program. On both sides we have teams that will compete, and they’ll compete for each other.”