ANDERSON, S.C. -- Jennifer Hitt and Diana Willard have had a lot to talk about this week. Hitt and Willard both will represent Anderson College in Saturday's NCAA Division II National Championship meet at Prado Park in Chino, California. "We've talked about the nationals almost every day," said Willard, a freshman from Pelion, S.C. "Jennifer has told me not to go out too hard the first mile, that the course is going to be hard, don't expect a good time, and expect a lot of people." Hitt, a two-time CVAC individual champion, will be making her second consecutive trip to the nationals. "I've never been to California, so I'm looking forward to it," said Hitt, a sophomore from Fountain Inn, S.C. "I'm extremely excited. I think there will be more fans there. Last year, I couldn't sit still. I was on the line jumping around. They started the countdown. I thought I was going to pass out by the time they got to one. This year, I know I'm not going to jump out and try to lead the first mile." During the 2005 season, Hitt finished in the top 10 in seven races and won two individual titles. She earned her spot in the nationals by finishing fourth in the regional meet at Wingate on Nov. 5. "I had the season I wanted to have," she said. "I expected more at the regional meet but it all worked out. We're going to a better place this year - Los Angeles - and I've got a teammate going with me. That will be a lot of fun." Willard, a six-time state champion in high school, recorded six top 10 finishes and won one race. She finished fifth in the regional meet to earn her trip to California. "It's a lot different from high school," Willard said. "The courses are a lot harder, and there are more hills and curves. It's way more competitive. In high school, I would just go out and lead the whole race. Now I have to pace myself more. If you go out hard, you can't get the time you want. I expected a little better season, but I'm pretty satisfied. I don't think I could've done anything different." Hitt is expecting a difficult course for the national meet. "I'm expecting a grass course with rolling hills and turns," she said. "It will be the type of course that will wear you down physically. That's what they look for at nationals - a course that will push you." Willard is excited about capping her first season at Anderson with a trip to the nationals. "I told myself the whole season I was going to the nationals," she said. "There was no doubt about it. I was confident. I ran as hard as I could." The host school for the nationals is California Poly Pomona. The race will begin at 2 p.m. EST.