KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan cross country team is set to open the 2023 season at the Winrow Valparaiso Open today at 6 PM at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. 

LAST YEAR'S EVENT
The Broncos placed third at the event last season, with Makayla Perez winning the event as an individual. WMU had 53 points and had five runners in the top 20. Along with Perez, Annalise James finished ninth, Brooke Soper claimed 12th, Madison Zarembski placed 16th and Katelyn Spooner crossed the finish line in 18th place.  

CATALDO NAMED HEAD COACH
After originally coming to Western Michigan as an assistant coach for the cross country and track and field program, Kevin Cataldo was selected as the head coach on May 10, 2023. Cataldo joined the Broncos as an assistant coach in March 2022, after serving in the same position at Southern Illinois for six seasons. He was then elevated to interim head coach in August of 2022. 

During his first year with the program, the cross country team finished fifth at the MAC Championships. It was the first time in program history that the program had two first team all-MAC performers. Makayla Perez finished fifth and Kayla Schiera placed seventh at the conference meet. The program also tied the second highest finish in program history at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet (13th). Additionally it was the first time the squad had an All-Region athlete (Makayla Perez) since Hanne Christensen in 2017.

KEY RETURNERS
The Broncos return a wealth of talent from last year's squad, including six of their top seven runners from last year's MAC Championship meet. The squad will be headlined by Kayla Schiera, who is an All-MAC First Team performer. She will be aided by Annalise James, Brooke Soper, Katelyn Spooner, Maggie Raab and Lauren Sancrant, who all return after helping the Broncos secure a fifth-place finish at last year's conference meet. 

MEETING THE NEWCOMERS
The Broncos added six runners to the team this season, with five freshmen and one transfer coming to Kalamazoo. Danielle Rinn is the lone transfer, and she enters the mix after spending last season at Oklahoma. She finished 57th at last year's Big 12 Championships. The freshmen include: Rebekah Asselin, Madison Clor, Larissa McGrath, Chloe Nixon and Lillian Zelasko. Asselin, Clor, McGrath and Nixon are all from Michigan, while Zelakso is from Indiana. Zelasko holds her region's 5K record, Nixon finished in the top-45 at the MHSAA Division Finals, McGrath is a two-time All-Conference selection, and Clor and Asselin are both All-Region performers. 

WHO'S RUNNING?
Rebekah Asselin, Madison Clor, Ann Marie Jordan, Delaney Knoll, Larissa McGrath, Chloe Nixon, Lauren Sancrant, Brooke Soper and Madison Zarembski will run in the opening race. Asselin, Clor, McGrath and Nixon will be making their college debuts. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will be in action again on Sept. 15 when they travel to Bowling Green Ohio for the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open. The meet is set for 6 PM at the Mel Brodt Cross Country Course.