Coming away with the first-place team trophy is a distinct possibility for the Central Arizona College cross country program in Saturday's NJCAA Championships.

The women are ranked No. 2 going into the meet at Ina, Ill. Winning the title would not be unprecedented, as CAC accomplished the feat in 2009.

"I don't think this will be a cakewalk by any means," Tavares said. "But if we run the way we're capable of, we should pull it off."

Top-ranked Iowa Central edged the CAC women 84-91 to claim the 2011 national title, and Saturday's outcome figures to be just as tight.

"It's going to be real close," Tavares said. Five runners figure in the scoring, and "it's going to come down to the fifth runners is how I see it."

Lansing, Mich., is No. 3 in the rankings, followed by Texas teams South Plains and El Paso.

Competing for the Vaqueras — who won NJCAA titles in 2005 and 2009 — will be Chloe Newell, Zahira Jimenez, Allison Denetchee, Konnie Zuniga, April Steward, April Tracy and Danielle Jones. Kailee Birdinground is the alternate.

Race distances are 5 kilometers for the women. The competition will be held at a golf course that Tavares described as "all grass and fairly flat with no vicious hills."

As for weather conditions, Saturday's forecast calls for temperatures in the low 60s with little chance of rain. It could be quite breezy, however, with sustained winds of 20 mph projected.