Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, November 15
Madison, Wis.
Eastern Michigan University
at
NCAA Great Lakes Regional
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
EMU Places Ninth at NCAA Great Lakes Regional
11/15/2019 3:34:00 PM | Women's XC
Natalie Cizmas finishes in 10th place against a strong field
MADISON, Wis. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team finished in the top-10 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional for the sixth consecutive season, as it placed ninth with a team score of 283 points Friday, Nov. 15, at the Thomas Zimmer Championships Cross Country Course.
"It was a solid day for us," said head coach Sue Parks. "We needed a perfect race to have a shot at breaking into the group of nationally-ranked teams and it just wasn't there today. But I'm proud of the team for running strong after such a tough battle at the MAC meet.
Sometimes, it's hard to bounce back after such an emotional win, but the girls battled hard." added Parks. "I'm excited about graduate student Natalie Cizmas' (Clinton Twp., Mich.-Chippewa Valley) outstanding race and we'll look forward to seeing the official word of the NCAA qualifiers. Overall, I'm pleased wit the effort today and the way we performed as a team during the championship part of the season."
Cizmas finished a career-best 10th place in the 6K race as she crossed the finish line at 20:33.3, cutting nearly a full minute off her time at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, Nov. 2. Redshirt senior Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School) ended the meet in 47th place with a time of 21:29.0, while senior Karlie Swanson (New South Wales, Australia-Bellingen) placed 60th with a time of 21:42.5 and junior Madison Distelrath (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Homestead) finished in 66th spot at 21:47.0.
Three underclassmen rounded out the field, as sophomore Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson) placed 100th with a time of 22:20.6, while freshman Esme Davies (Lake District, England-Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) and sophomore Emily DeLine (Newport, Mich.-Airport) closed out the event with times of 22:39.2 and 22:56.1, respectively.
As the five-time Mid-American Conference champions did not end up securing a top-two finish, they will now wait to see if they have earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships, which will be announced this weekend. However, Cizmas appears to be in line to an individual berth, which would mark her fourth straight appearance at the championship meet.
Team Results
9. Eastern Michigan 283
EMU Individual Results
10. Natalie Cizmas 20:33.3
47. Emily Smith 21:29.0
60. Karlie Swanson 21:42.5
66. Madison Distelrath 21:47.0
100. Kaitlyn St. Bernard 22:20.6
118. Emily DeLine 22:32.9
139. Esme Davies 22:56.1
"It was a solid day for us," said head coach Sue Parks. "We needed a perfect race to have a shot at breaking into the group of nationally-ranked teams and it just wasn't there today. But I'm proud of the team for running strong after such a tough battle at the MAC meet.
Sometimes, it's hard to bounce back after such an emotional win, but the girls battled hard." added Parks. "I'm excited about graduate student Natalie Cizmas' (Clinton Twp., Mich.-Chippewa Valley) outstanding race and we'll look forward to seeing the official word of the NCAA qualifiers. Overall, I'm pleased wit the effort today and the way we performed as a team during the championship part of the season."
Cizmas finished a career-best 10th place in the 6K race as she crossed the finish line at 20:33.3, cutting nearly a full minute off her time at the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, Nov. 2. Redshirt senior Emily Smith (Somerset, England-Wells Cathedral School) ended the meet in 47th place with a time of 21:29.0, while senior Karlie Swanson (New South Wales, Australia-Bellingen) placed 60th with a time of 21:42.5 and junior Madison Distelrath (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Homestead) finished in 66th spot at 21:47.0.
Three underclassmen rounded out the field, as sophomore Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson) placed 100th with a time of 22:20.6, while freshman Esme Davies (Lake District, England-Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) and sophomore Emily DeLine (Newport, Mich.-Airport) closed out the event with times of 22:39.2 and 22:56.1, respectively.
As the five-time Mid-American Conference champions did not end up securing a top-two finish, they will now wait to see if they have earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships, which will be announced this weekend. However, Cizmas appears to be in line to an individual berth, which would mark her fourth straight appearance at the championship meet.
Team Results
9. Eastern Michigan 283
EMU Individual Results
10. Natalie Cizmas 20:33.3
47. Emily Smith 21:29.0
60. Karlie Swanson 21:42.5
66. Madison Distelrath 21:47.0
100. Kaitlyn St. Bernard 22:20.6
118. Emily DeLine 22:32.9
139. Esme Davies 22:56.1
Players Mentioned
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
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