VALPARAISO, Ind. – Western Michigan cross country's Makayla Perez claimed the individual title at the 2022 Winrow Valparaiso Open on Friday evening as the Broncos opened the 2022 season.
 
Perez crushed the competition in her first race as a Bronco with a time of 17:29.3 in the 5k race, 41 seconds faster than her nearest challenger Kaitlan Ryan from Notre Dame. Perez, a transfer from Michigan State, was the only competitor to run under the 18-minute mark in the entire field.
 
As a team, the Broncos finished in third place with 53 points. WMU was just seven points shy of catching second-place Purdue. Notre Dame took the team title with 27 points after placing four of its runners in the top 20.
 
Senior Annalise James was Western Michigan's second finisher, running a time of 18:41.5 to claim ninth place. Senior Brooke Soper was the team's third finisher with a 12th-place finish and a time of 19:11.5. Freshman Maddie Zarembski and senior Katelyn Spooner rounded out WMU's top five on the day. Zarembski took 16th in her first collegiate race, turning in a time of 19:36.2. Spooner finished in 18th and ran a time of 19:52.8.
 
Western Michigan is off next week and then hits the road for the Spartan Invitational on Friday, Sept. 16 at the Forrest Akers East Golf Course.