Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, October 17
Louisville, Ky.
9:30 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Pre-Nationals Invitational
Men's Cross Country Set to Face Three Top-Ten Teams
10/13/2015 10:34:00 AM | Men's XC
The Eagles, with their full lineup, are prepared for the challenge offered by the talented field at the Pre-National Invitational
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Following a week free of races, the Eastern Michigan University men's cross country team will resume competition Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Pre-National Invitational in Louisville, Ky. The Eagles will utilize this high-profile race as a practice run for the NCAA Championships in November.
The last time out, the Green and White placed sixth in a talented field of runners at the 2015 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. The Eagles managed to defeat No. 17 New Mexico and No. 18 Arizona State in the process. Senior Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio - Maumee), the Eagles' team captain, made his season debut, finishing an impressive 15th-place with a time of 24:07.9. Additionally, sophomores Nick Raymond (Erie, Mich. - Mason) and Lahsene Bouchikhi (Antwerp, Belgium - Stedelijk Lyceum Paardenmarkt Luchthaven), as well as redshirt-sophomore Hlynur Andresson (Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland - Mountain Ridge) made their season debuts. Raymond managed to place 31st in 24:23.9 while Bouchikhi was right behind him in 34th with a time of 24:27.8. Andresson placed in the top-50 as well, coming in 46th and crossing the finish line in 24:38.6.
Head Coach John Goodridge is excited for his team to race against such a talented field, which will offer a way to see how his team stacks up compared to the top teams around the country. When speaking about this weekend's event, he stated "Our training has continued to progress each week, so we are looking forward to Saturday's competition and the opportunity to race so many outstanding teams, as the field includes seventeen teams that are receiving votes in the national rankings."
The Eagles will take part in the Men's Red race, which is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. in E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park. The field includes No. 1 Colorado, No. 3 Oregon, No. 10 Georgetown, Co-No. 13 Arkansas & UTEP, No. 17 Louisville, No. 22 California, No. 23 Colorado State, No. 25 Southern Utah, No. 29 Air Force, and No. 30 Texas. For more information on the event, please click here.
The last time out, the Green and White placed sixth in a talented field of runners at the 2015 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. The Eagles managed to defeat No. 17 New Mexico and No. 18 Arizona State in the process. Senior Willy Fink (Maumee, Ohio - Maumee), the Eagles' team captain, made his season debut, finishing an impressive 15th-place with a time of 24:07.9. Additionally, sophomores Nick Raymond (Erie, Mich. - Mason) and Lahsene Bouchikhi (Antwerp, Belgium - Stedelijk Lyceum Paardenmarkt Luchthaven), as well as redshirt-sophomore Hlynur Andresson (Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland - Mountain Ridge) made their season debuts. Raymond managed to place 31st in 24:23.9 while Bouchikhi was right behind him in 34th with a time of 24:27.8. Andresson placed in the top-50 as well, coming in 46th and crossing the finish line in 24:38.6.
Head Coach John Goodridge is excited for his team to race against such a talented field, which will offer a way to see how his team stacks up compared to the top teams around the country. When speaking about this weekend's event, he stated "Our training has continued to progress each week, so we are looking forward to Saturday's competition and the opportunity to race so many outstanding teams, as the field includes seventeen teams that are receiving votes in the national rankings."
The Eagles will take part in the Men's Red race, which is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. in E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park. The field includes No. 1 Colorado, No. 3 Oregon, No. 10 Georgetown, Co-No. 13 Arkansas & UTEP, No. 17 Louisville, No. 22 California, No. 23 Colorado State, No. 25 Southern Utah, No. 29 Air Force, and No. 30 Texas. For more information on the event, please click here.
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