KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Following a week off, the Western Michigan cross country team is set for the 2015 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31 at Noon. The Broncos are scheduled to race at noon at Canton GlenOak Community Park in Canton, Ohio.
“To be successful this weekend we need to trust our training. The hard work is there; we just need to trust in it and in ourselves and know what we're capable of doing,” Sophomore Hanne Christensen said. “There are no restraints this weekend; no holding back. If we work together as a team this weekend just like we've been doing during training for the past few months, there is no limit to what we can do.”
The Brown and Gold last raced at the Pre-National Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 17 in Louisville, Kent. where they finished in 16th place without the services of standout sophomore Maria McDaniel, who was racing in the seeded event unattached.
At the Pre-National Invitational, McDaniel finished in 25th place out of 311 runners with a time of 20:31.3. In the unseeded race, five Broncos set new personal records including freshman Sarah Anderson and Makenzie Evers, sophomores Claire Gilbert and Christensen and junior Amy Littlefield. Anderson was the team's best finisher in 52nd place with a time of 21:49.6. Christensen, Gilbert, Daya Wagh and Littlefield rounded out their top-five finishers while Renee Letz also competed in the race.
Last season, the Broncos finished in sixth place as McDaniel finished in second place individually earning First Team All-MAC honors. In Mount Pleasant, Mich. Four of the top-five finishers for the Broncos from last season are returning this year including McDaniel, Ann Marie Arseneau, Wagh and Christensen.
“Many little steps go into a team preparing for the MAC meet. We built our mileage base up gradually, we challenged ourselves in workouts, we worked on pack running, and we tended to the injuries we have had,” McDaniel said. “All of this and more have prepared the Broncos for another great race!”
Following the MAC Championships, the Broncos have another week off before heading to Madison, Wis. on Friday, Nov. 13 for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships.
