Eastern Michigan Athletics
Cross Country Ready for MAC Championships
10/28/2021 1:15:00 PM | Men's XC, Women's XC
League showdown takes place at Eagle Crest Golf Club, Oct. 30
PROGRAM | FINISH LINE STREAM | LIVE STATS
2020 MEN'S RESULTS | 2020 WOMEN'S RESULTS
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Members of the Mid-American Conference will make their way to Ypsilanti this weekend for the league's cross country championships. The conference showdown, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, is set for this Saturday, Oct. 30, at Eagle Crest Golf Club.
The championships kick off with the men's 8K at 11 a.m. followed by the women's 6K at 12 p.m. Pending weather, fans can catch the finish line action on our stream via Eagle All-Access. Visit EMUEagles.com/watch for streaming information.
"It will be exciting to compete at beautiful Eagle Crest Golf Club," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "I know that our student-athletes will enjoy the chance to compete in front of their home crowd. We are ready and look forward to the challenge."
"It is exciting to have the chance to host a MAC Championship at home," said Head Coach Mark Rinker. "I know both teams are excited to get out and run in front of our home crowd! We hope to see a lot of fans out there Saturday morning!"
A total of eight men's teams will battle it out for the MAC title: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami, Ohio, and Toledo. Three teams in the men's race are ranked in the Great Lakes Region top-15 according to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) included are EMU (eighth), Miami (10th), and UT (14th). Meanwhile, Buffalo is ranked 13th in the Northeast Region.
The men's 2020 victory in the conference championship race marked the program's 14th in 16 years and 24th overall after topping Miami 39-63, Nov. 21. With the win, Parks became the first female coach in MAC history to mentor a men's championship cross country team. Sophomore Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington), junior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University), and classmate Chris Devaney (New Plymouth, New Zealand-New Plymouth) were First Team All-MAC selections as they went 2-3-4. Additionally, freshman Toby Gualter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College) placed 10th, earning him Second Team All-MAC status and Freshman of the Year honors.
The women's race will be more packed, with all 12 conference members vying for the coveted MAC trophy. The USTFCCCA has Toledo (fifth), Miami (10th), Akron (11th), and Ball State (12th) all ranked in the Great Lakes Region. The EMU women's program won five-straight MAC titles from 2015-2019 and. Additionally, the 2016 and 2017 teams made it to the NCAA Championship with the 2016 group finishing ninth with 316 points, the highest finish in MAC history.
The squad placed ninth overall last year as a team with 227 points and were led by sophomore Esme Davies (Lake District, England-Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) who crossed the finish line in 21:49.2 for 19th. Northern Illinois hoisted the MAC title in 2020 for the first time in program history with 84 points.
In the men's race, Magnusson looks to lead a strong group of Green and Yellow harriers after pacing the Eagles in every race he's competed in so far this season. The Iceland native's season-best came at the Florida State XC Open where he finished seventh in 24:03.7, Sept. 17.
Gualter and sophomore Josh Hill (Amherst, Ohio-Amherst Steele) have also been incredibly consistent in the lineup. Gualter notched a career-high 8K time (24:21.3) at the Florida State meet, Sept. 17, while Hill clocked in at 24:35.8 at the Notre Dame Invitational five-mile race, Oct. 1.
Meanwhile, the balanced women's team has been led by Davies and freshman Sofia Ivanko (Buenos Aires, Argentina-St. Matthew's College). Both runners' season-best 6K times came at the FSU XC Open, Sept. 17, finishing in 22:24.3, and 22:34.5, respectively.
Furthermore, junior captain Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson), a 2019 scorer for the Eagles, is geared up for another strong MAC meet alongside classmate and fellow captain Olivia Chandler (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton). Junior Lexi Seifert (Waterford, Pa.-Villa Maria Academy) also looks to aid in EMU's fight for the MAC title after starting off the season with a personal-best 5K time of 18:18.5 at the Mel Brodt Invitational, Sept. 3.
Following the MAC Championships, both teams will look to prepare even further for the Great Lakes Regional. The regional meet is hosted by the University of Evansville on Friday, Nov. 12. The first race will be the women's 6K at 11 a.m. CT, followed by the men's 10K race at 12 p.m. CT. The top-two teams from each race at the meet automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.
For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
2020 MEN'S RESULTS | 2020 WOMEN'S RESULTS
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Members of the Mid-American Conference will make their way to Ypsilanti this weekend for the league's cross country championships. The conference showdown, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, is set for this Saturday, Oct. 30, at Eagle Crest Golf Club.
The championships kick off with the men's 8K at 11 a.m. followed by the women's 6K at 12 p.m. Pending weather, fans can catch the finish line action on our stream via Eagle All-Access. Visit EMUEagles.com/watch for streaming information.
"It will be exciting to compete at beautiful Eagle Crest Golf Club," said Director/Head Coach Sue Parks. "I know that our student-athletes will enjoy the chance to compete in front of their home crowd. We are ready and look forward to the challenge."
"It is exciting to have the chance to host a MAC Championship at home," said Head Coach Mark Rinker. "I know both teams are excited to get out and run in front of our home crowd! We hope to see a lot of fans out there Saturday morning!"
A total of eight men's teams will battle it out for the MAC title: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami, Ohio, and Toledo. Three teams in the men's race are ranked in the Great Lakes Region top-15 according to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) included are EMU (eighth), Miami (10th), and UT (14th). Meanwhile, Buffalo is ranked 13th in the Northeast Region.
The men's 2020 victory in the conference championship race marked the program's 14th in 16 years and 24th overall after topping Miami 39-63, Nov. 21. With the win, Parks became the first female coach in MAC history to mentor a men's championship cross country team. Sophomore Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington), junior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University), and classmate Chris Devaney (New Plymouth, New Zealand-New Plymouth) were First Team All-MAC selections as they went 2-3-4. Additionally, freshman Toby Gualter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College) placed 10th, earning him Second Team All-MAC status and Freshman of the Year honors.
The women's race will be more packed, with all 12 conference members vying for the coveted MAC trophy. The USTFCCCA has Toledo (fifth), Miami (10th), Akron (11th), and Ball State (12th) all ranked in the Great Lakes Region. The EMU women's program won five-straight MAC titles from 2015-2019 and. Additionally, the 2016 and 2017 teams made it to the NCAA Championship with the 2016 group finishing ninth with 316 points, the highest finish in MAC history.
The squad placed ninth overall last year as a team with 227 points and were led by sophomore Esme Davies (Lake District, England-Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) who crossed the finish line in 21:49.2 for 19th. Northern Illinois hoisted the MAC title in 2020 for the first time in program history with 84 points.
In the men's race, Magnusson looks to lead a strong group of Green and Yellow harriers after pacing the Eagles in every race he's competed in so far this season. The Iceland native's season-best came at the Florida State XC Open where he finished seventh in 24:03.7, Sept. 17.
Gualter and sophomore Josh Hill (Amherst, Ohio-Amherst Steele) have also been incredibly consistent in the lineup. Gualter notched a career-high 8K time (24:21.3) at the Florida State meet, Sept. 17, while Hill clocked in at 24:35.8 at the Notre Dame Invitational five-mile race, Oct. 1.
Meanwhile, the balanced women's team has been led by Davies and freshman Sofia Ivanko (Buenos Aires, Argentina-St. Matthew's College). Both runners' season-best 6K times came at the FSU XC Open, Sept. 17, finishing in 22:24.3, and 22:34.5, respectively.
Furthermore, junior captain Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson), a 2019 scorer for the Eagles, is geared up for another strong MAC meet alongside classmate and fellow captain Olivia Chandler (Brighton, Mich.-Brighton). Junior Lexi Seifert (Waterford, Pa.-Villa Maria Academy) also looks to aid in EMU's fight for the MAC title after starting off the season with a personal-best 5K time of 18:18.5 at the Mel Brodt Invitational, Sept. 3.
Following the MAC Championships, both teams will look to prepare even further for the Great Lakes Regional. The regional meet is hosted by the University of Evansville on Friday, Nov. 12. The first race will be the women's 6K at 11 a.m. CT, followed by the men's 10K race at 12 p.m. CT. The top-two teams from each race at the meet automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.
For updates on all things EMU cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
Track & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
Tuesday, April 08
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, March 05
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Highlights
Saturday, March 01
2025 MAC Indoor Championships Hype Video
Wednesday, February 26