Women's Cross Country | September 05, 2019
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan cross country team begins a new era on Friday at the Stoatin Brae Golf Course as WMU hosts the annual George Dales Invitational against Eastern Michigan at 6 p.m.
The meet is the first of the season and the first under new head coach Makiba Batten, who takes over the program after spending the past six seasons as an assistant coach at Wayne State University. Batten recently added Tony Filipek to her staff as an assistant coach. Filipek, a former two-time Division II All-American, will be in charge of the distance and middle-distance crews.
"My expectations for the team right now is to come to practice every day and work hard," said Batten. "Let's do what we can do with what we have and move up in the conference."
The Broncos are split down the middle in terms of upper and underclassmen with seven of each. Senior Juliane Sormaine will not see action on Friday but had the best cross country season of her career last year after earning Second Team All-MAC honors. Senior Brittney Hall will be looked upon for leadership after a solid junior season, while sophomore Paisley Sipes showed promise during her freshman season. The freshman class of Annalise James, Emma Pachay, Mary Raclawski, and Ashley Shipps is also expected to make an impact.
With a new staff comes a new training regiment, orchestrated by Filipek.
"They have been rock solid," said Filipek on the team's performance in workouts. "They're going through all the intervals and tempo sessions like I've been here for two years. I can feel and sense the trust they are instilling in me and I think it has been a really good transition these first three weeks."
MEET INFORMATION
Venue: Stoatin Brae Golf Course
15579 E Augusta Dr
Augusta, MI 49012
Admission: Free
Time: 6 p.m.
SPECIAL GUEST
Attending the George Dales Invitational will be his former assistant coach Bob Parks. Parks was on staff as Dales, who passed away in 2017, helped lead the Broncos to back-to-back NCAA Cross Country National Championships in 1964 and 1965. Parks is a member of the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame after coaching at Eastern Michigan for 34 years, leading EMU to 31 MAC titles. Parks' daughter Sue has been the long-time head coach of the Eagles' women's program.
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