KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Two weeks off of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championships, the Western Michigan cross country team is set for the regional stage, competing in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 10 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Indiana State University will host the 6k race at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, beginning at 11:15 a.m. A total of 34 teams will be participating on Friday including Indiana, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, who all rank in the nation's top-30 in coaches' poll released by the USTFCCCA. As a squad, the Broncos need a top-two finish to guarantee a spot at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 17.

Admission to the event is $5 per person – cash only.

"I'm really excited to see what the team can do here in the championship part of the season," commented Western Michigan associate head coach Taryn Sheehan. "We've worked on sharpening the legs the past few weeks and are feeling pretty good."

The Broncos are coming off of the 2018 Mid-American Conference Championship race on Oct. 27 at the University of Toledo. WMU finish scored 136 points to place fifth of 12 teams while placing three runners on All-MAC teams for the first time since 1986.  
Sarah Anderson, Maria McDaniel, and Juliane Sormain all finished within the top-14 to earn All-MAC honors. Anderson crossed the finish line at 20:48.4 to finish in fifth place and earn All-MAC First Team recognition with a personal best 6k time. Maria McDaniel and Juliane Sormain finished second and third for WMU, finishing ninth and 14^th, respectively to receive All-MAC Second Team honors. McDaniel, who bounced back from injuries the past two seasons, clocked a time of 21:17. She previously earned All-MAC First Team honors in 2014 and 2015. Sormain set a personal best time of 21:32.6, her career-best finish at the conference meet. 

The seven WMU runners that will represent the Brown & Gold this weekend include Courtney Allen, Sarah Anderson, Brittney Hall, Maria McDaniel, Chloe McEachern, Paisley Sipes, and Julian Sormain.

"I think some confidence coming off the conference meet should set the women up well," said Sheehan. "Every single lady has made significant improvements this season and that is such a victory in itself. However, we aren't' satisfied and we know a lot of teams in the region are underestimating what we can do."

Sarah Anderson & Maria McDaniel Feature