CHICAGO -- UIC will hit the course for one final test in the lead-up to the 2018 Horizon League Cross Country Championship on Friday, October 12, when the Flames travel to Peoria, Ill., where they will participate in the Bradley Pink Classic at Newman Golf Course.

UIC last ran in its own backyard on Sept. 29 at the 41^st Loyola Lakefront Invitational. Both the men's and women's teams had strong showings at Montrose Beach with the ladies finishing 14^th overall our of 33 teams, and the men running 18^th out of 26. Nine runners posted personal-best times for the women, including the top finisher Allison Hansen. The senior broke 18 minutes in the 5K for the first time and clocked a finish of 17:57, which was second-fastest among Horizon League entrants. The men added five PRs, highlighted by sophomore Carlos Cabrera's 8K mark of 25:25. Cabrera crossed just in front of Walmer Saavedra who shaved 12 seconds off his previous best.

Friday's festivities begin at the Newman Golf Course with the mixed open race at 2:30 p.m. UIC's women's team will be running in the 6K Red Race at 3:15 p.m. The men will take on the 8K Red Race at approximately 4 p.m. The same facility will host the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 9.

Before the Bradley Pink Classic, UIC head coach Ashley Lucas sat down with UICFlames.com to look back the Loyola performances, what to expect on Friday and more. Check out the full conversation below: