Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
MAC Championships
Eagles Dominate, Win Second Consecutive MAC Championship
10/28/2006 4:49:52 PM | Men's XC
Nowitzke wins individual title, four others in top 10
Complete Results: Team. Individual.
BUFFALO, N.Y.- For the second straight season, the Eastern Michigan University men's cross country team can call itself "Champions", winning the Mid-American Conference title in dominating fashion Saturday here at Beaver Island State Park. The Eagles posted a remarkable 23 points, surpassing second place Central Michigan University (64 points) by 41 points.
A soaking rain throughout Friday night caused the course on Grand Island to become muddy with constant 20-30 mph winds and temperatures in the low 40s during the races creating cold conditions for the runners. The rain dissipated during the men's race while the women's race was contested without rain.
Senior Corey Nowitzke (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe) continued his march into the EMU record books, winning the individual championship with a time 26:52.60. Nowitzke's finish was roughly 28 seconds better than the second place finisher, the Eagles' own Josh Perrin (Hillsdale, Mich/Hillsdale) (27:20.95).
The Eagles rounded out the top three with sophomore David Brent (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic Central) who posted a time of 27:56.05.
Other top 10 finishers for the Eagles include sophomores Josh Karanja (Ottawa, Canada-Nepean) (7th, 28:04.50) and Neal Naughton (Walled Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Western) (10th, 28:21.05).
Head coach John Goodridge will now take his team to Bowling Green, Ohio on Saturday, November 11 for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. The event will begin at 10 a.m. If the Eagles are successful, they will compete in the NCAA Championships, where they finished 24th last season.
Men's team scores: Eastern Michigan 23, Central Michigan 64, Kent State 72, Miami 144, Ohio 148, Akron 156, UB 163, Bowling Green 208, Toledo 256.
Men's First Team All-MAC: Corey Nowitzke (Eastern Michigan), Josh Perrin (Eastern Michigan), David Brent (Eastern Michigan), Jason Headman (Akron), Ben Wietmarschen (Kent State), Jeff Powers (Central Michigan), Josh Karanja (Eastern Michigan).
Men's Second Team All-MAC: Matt Loiselle (Central Michigan), Ryan Spellman (Kent State), Neal Naughton (Eastern Michigan), Andrew Manning (Central Michigan), Curtis Vollmar (Eastern Michigan), Brian King (Ohio), Curtis Baldwin (Eastern Michigan).
Men's MAC Coach of the Year: John Goodridge (Eastern Michigan).
