KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan cross country team will open its 2025 season at the Jeff Drenth Memorial tomorrow afternoon. The meet is hosted by Central Michigan and will begin at 11 AM at the Shepherd High School Cross Country Course.
2024 RECAP
The Brown and Gold had an outstanding 2024 campaign, which ended with an 18th-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional Meet. Prior to that, the Broncos secured sixth place at the MAC Champioships. In that meet, five runners finished in the top 50.
During the regular season, Western Michigan finished top 10 in all but one meet. Also, for the first time since 2019, WMU hosted the George Dales Invite. The Broncos concluded the race in 4th place and six runners placed in the top 25.
WELCOME BACK
The Broncos welcome back a wealth of talent, including some of the top runners in the MAC.
Lillian Zelasko and
Lily Overton will lead the way for the Brown and Gold this season. Zelasko was an All-Region performer last season and Overton was Second Team All-MAC in outdoor track and field.
Outside of those two,
Lauren Sancrant Lara Machado Pereira and
Madison Zarembski are back as well. Sancrant and Machado Pereira were in the scoring lineup at the MAC Championships, while Zarembski returns after missing most of last season due to injury.
Rebekah Asselin,
Madison Clor,
Shannon Gillahan,
Ava Kurczewski and
Larissa McGrath are also back after strong 2024 campaigns.
NEW TO KALAMAZOO
WMU has just four new faces on the cross country team this season, but they will be heavy hitters in the lineup.
Lily Baibak,
Joy Evans,
Emma Henkel and
Kaelin Hughes are joining the mix after outstanding high school careers. Evans and Hughes were All-State in Michigan, while Baibak was her high school's Female Athlete of the Year. Henkel is from Austrailia and has placed top three in a pair of national championships.
WHO'S COMPETING? (Denotes 5K PR)
Rebekah Asselin (19:30.2)
Lily Baibak (College Debut)
Joy Evans (College Debut)
Kaelin Hughes (College Debut)
Lara Machado Pereira (18:55.3)
Larissa McGrath (18:59.2)
Lily Overton (18:09.8)
Lauren Sancrant (18:24.9)
Madison Zarembski (19:03.1)
