BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- The LIU Brooklyn women's cross country team is headed to Kissimmee, Fla. this weekend to compete in their favorite non-championship event of the season, the Disney XC Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. With multiple races at different distances all weekend, the college division 5K race is set for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

"After a well deserved weekend off, I'm expecting fast times across the board from the team," said head coach Yvonne Harrison. "The ladies are well rested, recovered and refreshed. I look for them to set personal best times, particularly because it's a relatively flat course. Disney is the perfect environment for a change of pace to forget about arduous courses and difficult conditions. They can think of Disney and be race ready equivalent of a Neverland experience. Many run faster when they can just have fun."

Last season at Disney, then junior Sarah Northrup broke the 20-minute mark with a 19:45 (36th place), while Zaahira Deboise, Ashton Burton and Stephanie Reyes all set personal best marks on the course.

"All season we've been running on tough courses, such as Van Cortlandt Park and Monmouth," continued Harrison. "Everyone can benefit from a fast, flat and one that's easy to navigate.They have a chance to capitalize on fast times, which will inevitably help their confidence and give us momentum headed into our conference meet in a few weeks. This approach will help build unity and cohesiveness as team."

After this weekend, the Blackbirds will have one race left next Sunday, October 14, in Albany's Invitational, before the NEC Championships on October 27 in Smithfield, R.I.