Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Cross Country Announces 2022 Schedule
8/22/2022 10:31:00 AM | Men's XC, Women's XC
Slate includes five regular season meets, one at home
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Director of Track and Field, and women's cross country Head Coach Sue Parks and men's cross country Head Coach Mark Rinker announced the teams' schedules today, Aug. 22. The slate contains five regular season meets, including the return of the EMU Fall Classic.
"Each year, we try to put together a schedule that is competitive and also prepares us for success at the MAC, NCAA Regional, and beyond," said Parks. "We're excited to head to some meets that we haven't been to in a while. It will be fun to get started and see how our teams develop throughout the season."
"I am excited for the cross country season, the new season is always exciting as we plan for the entire year," said Rinker. "This year we have a balanced team with some of the top returners in the MAC and some really exciting young athletes. Coach Parks and I really worked hard on a schedule that will test our top athletes and give our younger athletes chances to develop throughout the season and ultimately set us up for success at MAC's and NCAA's."
The Eagle harriers will sprint into the season Friday, Sept. 2 in Shepherd, Mich. for the Jeff Drenth Memorial, hosted by Central Michigan University. After a week off, EMU will head south to Bowling Green, Ohio for the Mel Brodt Open, Sept. 16.
A trip to Louisville, Ky. for the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic, Oct. 1 will open up the new month. Two weeks later, EMU will once again hit the road for the Penn State National, Oct. 14. Eastern Michigan will host the EMU Fall Classic, Oct. 21, in Dexter, Mich., to close out the regular season.
The postseason will kick off Oct. 29 in Athens, Ohio with the Mid-American Conference Championships. The men's team will look to continue its streak of championships after winning the past three MAC titles. In addition, senior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) will attempt to defend his individual MAC title.
The conference tilt will prepare the Eagles for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 11, in Terre Haute, Ind. From there, the top-two placing teams will travel to Stillwater, Okla., Nov. 19, for the NCAA Championships.
The men's team will return three first-team All-MAC runners from a year ago in Magnusson, sophomore Toby Gualter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College), and junior Josh Hill (Amherst, Ohio-Amherst Steele). Second-team All-MAC honoree Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) will also be returning for his senior season.
On the women's side, the Eagles return a roster looking to take a step up from last season. Sophomore Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands-American School of the Hague), the women's top performer at the MAC Championships a year ago, joins senior Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson), as leaders on this year's team. Senior Julia Pleskaczynska (Lublin, Poland-High School No. III them. Union of Lublin-Boise State University) and junior Faith Rono (Eldoret, Kenya-Middle Tennessee State) will be coming over to the cross country team for the first time after spending the spring competing on the EMU track and field team.
For updates on all things Eastern Michigan cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram and Twitter, @EMUXC_TF, and Facebook, @EMUXCTF.
"Each year, we try to put together a schedule that is competitive and also prepares us for success at the MAC, NCAA Regional, and beyond," said Parks. "We're excited to head to some meets that we haven't been to in a while. It will be fun to get started and see how our teams develop throughout the season."
"I am excited for the cross country season, the new season is always exciting as we plan for the entire year," said Rinker. "This year we have a balanced team with some of the top returners in the MAC and some really exciting young athletes. Coach Parks and I really worked hard on a schedule that will test our top athletes and give our younger athletes chances to develop throughout the season and ultimately set us up for success at MAC's and NCAA's."
The Eagle harriers will sprint into the season Friday, Sept. 2 in Shepherd, Mich. for the Jeff Drenth Memorial, hosted by Central Michigan University. After a week off, EMU will head south to Bowling Green, Ohio for the Mel Brodt Open, Sept. 16.
A trip to Louisville, Ky. for the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic, Oct. 1 will open up the new month. Two weeks later, EMU will once again hit the road for the Penn State National, Oct. 14. Eastern Michigan will host the EMU Fall Classic, Oct. 21, in Dexter, Mich., to close out the regular season.
The postseason will kick off Oct. 29 in Athens, Ohio with the Mid-American Conference Championships. The men's team will look to continue its streak of championships after winning the past three MAC titles. In addition, senior Baldvin Magnusson (Akureyri, Iceland-Hull University) will attempt to defend his individual MAC title.
The conference tilt will prepare the Eagles for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 11, in Terre Haute, Ind. From there, the top-two placing teams will travel to Stillwater, Okla., Nov. 19, for the NCAA Championships.
The men's team will return three first-team All-MAC runners from a year ago in Magnusson, sophomore Toby Gualter (Tawa, New Zealand-Tawa College), and junior Josh Hill (Amherst, Ohio-Amherst Steele). Second-team All-MAC honoree Andy Payne (Worthington, Ohio-Thomas Worthington) will also be returning for his senior season.
On the women's side, the Eagles return a roster looking to take a step up from last season. Sophomore Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands-American School of the Hague), the women's top performer at the MAC Championships a year ago, joins senior Kaitlyn St. Bernard (Newport, Mich.-Jefferson), as leaders on this year's team. Senior Julia Pleskaczynska (Lublin, Poland-High School No. III them. Union of Lublin-Boise State University) and junior Faith Rono (Eldoret, Kenya-Middle Tennessee State) will be coming over to the cross country team for the first time after spending the spring competing on the EMU track and field team.
For updates on all things Eastern Michigan cross country and track and field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram and Twitter, @EMUXC_TF, and Facebook, @EMUXCTF.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
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