When the University of Colorado cross country team races for the first time in 2007 Saturday at the 22nd annual Rocky Mountain Shootout, fans can expect Sara Vaughn to be up front for the third-ranked women and Brent Vaughn to lead the No. 2 and defending NCAA champion men.

The two Vaughns have found a home on the close-knit CU team; and they have also found a home with each other and their daughter, Ciara.

Call it Team Vaughn; a family unit that gives the two runners a maturity that has helped them become leaders of the Buffs as well as two top collegiate runners. They will race a solid field of 15 women's teams and 13 men's squads Saturday. Top Division II school Western State looks to be strong once again, and Wyoming brings 2006 Shootout champ Mark Korir back to Boulder. Adams State, another top Division II school, is racing elsewhere on Saturday.

The Shootout is held at the Buffalo Ranch in South Boulder. The collegiate races start with the women at 10 a.m. and the men at 10:45 a.m. Open races precede the collegiate races, with many of the open runners expected to stick around to watch the Vaughns lead the Buffs into their only home meet of the season.

"Brent and Sara seem to have spent much of the summer making a concrete plan for parenthood and studenthood, and they are doing a great job of it," Colorado head coach Mark Wetmore said on Tuesday. "They have never had to compromise practices while they are tending to the baby. They are elders on the team, social leaders and team leaders."

The Vaughns' leadership is needed this year, as Wetmore has added a bunch of baby Buffs to the team. Brent Vaughn has a co-leader in fellow senior Stephen Pifer, while Jenny Barringer is the top women's runner.

Barringer, however, will not be racing the Shootout, as she recovers from a busy summer that saw her win the steeplechase at the U.S. national championships; compete in the IAAF World Track and Field championships in Osaka, Japan; and race a big meet in Paris.

There is a chance Wetmore and assistant Heather Burroughs will choose to redshirt Barringer this season. That leaves Vaughn and senior Erin Marston to lead the women.

"We have a lot of new people, and we are lucky to have Brent and Sara in leadership roles," said Wetmore. "And the young people are lucky to have them as well."

Brent Vaughn, a former prep star at Smoky Hill High School, is seeking to finish his final CU cross country season with a bang. After placing fourth in the NCAAs three years ago he was 12th in 2006 after a redshirt season in 2005.

"I am going into every race with the mind set that I can win," Vaughn said Wednesday during a phone interview, as he did his duty taking care of Ciara before handing her off to Sara so he could do his homework. "This is the best summer I have ever had. Stephen (Pifer) is running real well, and I am impressed with a lot of the young runners."

Vaughn, who already has a degree in engineering and is taking business classes this semester, said he and psychology major Sara are able to juggle school and parenthood with the help of "a real good baby-sitter." And, he added, "(fifth-year Buff) Greg Castro baby-sits an hour a day twice a week. That helps a lot."

It also means Sara Vaughn, who had a breakthrough season last spring in track when she made the NCAAs in the 1,500 meters, is able to train at the level she needs to.

"Sara is training very well," said Brent. "She is healthy and in very good shape, and is excited about the season."

So are the CU coaches. After opening practice at the end of August with a training camp near Grand Lake, Wetmore seemed ready to don a singlet and jump out on the Buffalo Ranch course himself.

"We race later than most teams," he said. "My main feeling is impatience. Myself and coach Burroughs are getting anxious to see them go hard."

Fall cross series debuts

The Shootout is also the kickoff the inaugural four-race Fall Cross Country Series. The public is invited to race the Buffalo Ranch course Saturday, at 8:15 a.m. for the women's 5.8K, followed by the men's 8K at 9:15 a.m. Registration is $5 on race morning, but meet director Casey Malone asks that open runners send him an e-mail if they plan on running.

Casey.malone@colorado.edu. For more details on the fall series, check www.fallcross.com