Women's Cross Country | September 01, 2016
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan cross country team is all set to open the 2016 season at its annual George Dales Invitational on Friday, Sept. 2 starting at 6 p.m. at Pine View Golf Club in Three Rivers, Mich. Reigning Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Eastern Michigan will travel to face the Broncos.
This year's squad features a total of 19 student-athletes, including two seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and a big freshman class of nine. Among the runners returning is two-time First Team All-MAC honoree Maria McDaniel, a junior for the Broncos. Last season, McDaniel was named to the NCAA All-Great Lakes Regional team and earned a spot in the NCAA Championships for the second straight season. She placed third at last season's MAC Championships, helping WMU to place fourth as a team, the highest finish for the Broncos since 2003.
"I think we are really looking forward to building off the momentum we ended with last season," head coach Kelly Lycan said. "We want to be established as one of the top teams in the MAC every year and there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to do that."
Along with McDaniel, the Broncos bring back the top-7 finishers at last season MAC Championships in sophomore Sarah Anderson, junior Claire Gilbert, junior Hanne Christensen, senior Daya Wagh, senior Amy Littlefield and sophomore Makenzie Evers.
Other returning runners include juniors Taylor Grace and Allison Wilson along with sophomore Emily Davis. The freshman class consists of Holly Blowers, Sydney Del Valle, Mattie Goodwin, Brittney Hall, Autumn Lewis, Kirstin McGahan, Katie Menke, Yadira Rodriguez and Abigail Shaver.
"We've got Maria, who will be a front runner at pretty much every race she goes to," Lycan said. "I think we'll have more competition in our top-five because we have a lot of depth with that big freshman class. It has become obvious that the freshman are not afraid to stick their heads in there with the upper classman."
Last season, the Broncos fell to EMU 36-21 at the George Dales Invitational as McDaniel won the race with a time of 20:33.80. EMU claimed spots 2-5 while Anderson finished in sixth place and Christensen placed eighth.
Follow the Broncos on Twitter @WMU_TFXC for all updates about the team!
