The hillbilly gospel of the Louvin Brothers is also represented by a fine version of 'There's a Higher Power.' The folksy country of 'Fire and Water' and 'Wide River to Cross,' both written with Julie, simply and profoundly offer the poetic, stark, and harsh realities of life as they are transcended with hope and healing. But the sheer beauty and bewilderment in Miller's reading makes it a spiritual of a different kind. The cover of Bob Dylan's historical antiwar tome 'With God on Our Side' may feel, initially, like an anomaly here. Miller's guitar bites down hard, gritty, and greasy in the break with a droning B-3 giving him the foundation to riff on. Buddy's voice professes and testifies his confidence in a God who holds the place of safety while imploring Him to continue, with the McCrarys carrying the refrain to the skies with their otherworldly harmonies and fills. 'Shelter Me,' written with his wife, Julie, is a deep, bluesed-out funky church song. Miller's singing, buoyed by the McCrarys' sublime chorus work, goes right to the grain in the lyric and tears at the heart of it. It's deep in the blues gospel groove a B-3 and Rogers' fiddle wind around the middle of the tune, underscored by Miller's gritty guitar licking the edges and punching the middle. The album opens with 'Worry Too Much,' one of the many fine tunes by the late songwriter Mark Heard. And speaking of vocals, Universal United House of Prayer is the first album that highlights Miller's usually unsung talent: his singing. But what sets it apart are the stellar talents of gospel vocalists Ann and Regina McCrary, who sing on all but two tracks. Miller wrote or co-wrote eight of the set's 11 selections and employs a backing band of friends including Brady Blade, Steve Hindalong, Phil Madeira, Tammy Rogers, Byron House, Rick Plant, and (of course) Julie Miller and Emmylou Harris. Miller effortlessly walks the line between the genre's styles, all the while stamping them with his own unique Americana trademark. The two will race again in two weeks at the NCAA West Regionals, in Palo Alto, CA at 11:00 AM at Stanford Golf Course.Changeup: Buddy Miller issues a roots gospel album as his debut for New West. Last season she ran her then personal record at the conference championships, this year she was just one second behind that time with a time of 22:43, which is extremely impressive considering that the Crystal Springs course was little better then a muddy quagmire following the men's race. Hagedorn was also the pulse of the women's team, finishing first in every race. Her record setting time at UC Davis was the seventh fastest time run all season for the women in the WCC. In the only 5K race that she ran this season, Hagedorn tied the 10th fastest time with an 18:08. Hagedorn has also re-written the Saint Mary's record book, she set the record with a 21:50 at the UC Davis Invitational, and has also run the third and ninth fastest times in the 6K. Hagedorn's 13th place finish in the conference Championship earns her Honorable Mention in the conference. Mendoza was also a West Coast Conference player of the month for his brilliant September, and was a two time player of the week this fall for the Saint Mary's Athletics.

Mendoza's finish of fourth in the men's 8K is the highest finish ever for a Saint Mary's male runner in the conference championships.

His time at the conference championships of 26:06 was the slowest time he ran all season, but that is understandable considering the awful conditions of the course. But that's not all Mendoza has totally re-written the Saint Mary's record book, this season Mendoza has run the fastest time in Saint Mary's history, as well as the second, fourth and sixth fastest time. Mendoza recorded the fourth fastest time in the WCC this season, with his Saint Mary's record setting time of 24:35 set at the Sundodger Invite in Seattle, WA. Mendoza and Hagedorn finished fourth and 13th respectively at the West Coast Conference Championships on Saturday, November 1 at the Crystal Springs Cross Country Course in Belmont, CA. Moraga, CA – Mario Mendoza and Karrie Hagedorn have led the Saint Mary's men's and women's cross country team all season, it is fitting that they be the first two men and women runners to earn conference honors in the same season.

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