KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan cross country team will compete in one of the biggest races of the season on Saturday as Indiana State will be hosting the Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. The Broncos will be running in the white race at 12:15 p.m. with over 20 other universities including Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Miami and Central Michigan.
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"This weekend is one of the biggest cross country weekends in the NCAA prior to championship season. The Pre-National championship offers not only the opportunity to preview the NCAA course but to go against some of the top nationally ranked teams in the country," associate head coach Taryn Sheehan said. "On the women's side alone seven teams are ranked in the top-20 currently. This weekend we are really excited to use this as an opportunity to race against some of the best women's teams from all over the country."
Last weekend, the Broncos competed in the Michigan Intercollegiates hosted by Hillsdale College. Nine out of the 10 competitors were freshman as Holly Blowers led the way with an eighth place finish and a time of 19:48.8. Four other freshmen finished out WMU's top-five in Brittney Hall (19th), Abigail Shaver (23th), Katie Menke (27th) and Sydney Del Valle (29th). Other finishers for the Brown & Gold were freshman Mattie Goodwin (34th), freshman Autumn Lewis (35th), sophomore Emily Davis (37th) and freshman Yadira Rodriguez (41st).
"The seven women racing this weekend only includes two seniors, so it provides great experience for our underclassmen," Sheehan stated. "Pre-nationals is one of the last competitions leading into the conference championships and will really help us prepare for the most important part of the season. The whole team has been doing a great job of working hard and getting stronger each week. I believe the girls have some good performances in the future and Pre-Nationals will help be a good step towards it."
After the pre-national Invitational, the Broncos will head to the EMU Fall Classic on Friday, Oct. 21.
