After countless hours of intense training and outstanding performances this fall, both of the UW’s cross country teams are set to compete at the NCAA Championships in Indiana Monday.

“This is where we expected ourselves to be,” coach Greg Metcalf said. “We’re headed into the last part of our schedule and our kids are all excited about participating in the National Championships.”

The women will enter the national event boasting the No. 1 ranking they’ve commanded since Oct. 7. After placing eighth at Nationals last year — the best finish in Washington history — the women entered the 2008 season with high expectations.

The group conquered each race in which they participated, despite facing the most elite competition in the country, many of them from the Pac-10.

“This is easily the best team we’ve ever had here,” Metcalf said. “It’s been awesome from day one. They do a great job every day. They’re talented and they’re excited and that’s all there is to it.”

The men’s squad has also been running on top of their game, quietly putting together a successful season and earning a bid to the Championships after placing fifth at the West Regionals last weekend.

“Their progression is not an accident, that’s for sure,” Metcalf said. “Our men have done a very good job all year.”

Led by the strength and discipline of their upperclassmen, the UW men have exceeded the expectations of the pre-season polls. The Dawgs were not ranked in the top-30 in September, but have since worked their way up to No. 23 in the nation, outrunning competitors No. 19 Cal Poly and No. 26 UCLA last week.

2008 has been a year of hard work for the Husky cross country teams. In the end, though, that work has to come together this weekend against the most competitive teams in the nation.

Reach reporter Ben Foutz at sports@dailyuw.com.