Eastern Michigan Athletics

Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Women's Cross Country Capture Third at the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open, Men finish Fourth
9/15/2023 7:36:00 PM | Men's XC, Women's XC
It was the second straight top-five finish for both teams, four Eagles secured personal-bests times
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team excelled at the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open with a third place finish in the 6000m event, scoring 62 points. The Eastern men's squad placed fourth in its 8K race, putting up 79 points, Friday evening on the campus of Bowling Green State University.
"I'm pleased with where we are at this point in the season. We competed hard and showed improvement from our first race. We're ready to get back to work and build towards our next meet in Louisville," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Sue Parks.
Appearing to already be in mid-season from in just the second meet of the 2023 campaign, Esme Davies (Lake District, England/Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) led the Eagles with a third-place finish in a personal-best 21:03.39. Finishing in eighth and missing a personal-best by a mere five seconds was Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands/American School of The Hague), who concluded in 21:34.03, rounding out EMU's top 10 finishers.
Finishing just outside the top 10 was Sofia Ivanko (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. Matthew's College), who was tailed by Anita Zaro(Timisoara, Romania/Faculty of Physical Education and Sport), who finished her first collegiate 6K in 21:56.18. Senior Tabatha Walford (Northamptonshire, England/Bishop Stopford/Nevada) edged herself out a personal-best outing as she placed 25th in 22:09.17, besting her previous personal-best, 22:10.8.
Elena Wheeler (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) joined Davies and Walford as EMU women harriers with a career performance as she finished the 6K course in a personal-best, 26:08.18.
Overall, the women ended he day with a third-place finish.
"The guys ran a solid team race, they executed the race plan and closed well over the last 3k. We are excited to get our full lineup on the line at Louisville in a couple of weeks," said men's Head Coach Mark Rinker.
It was Marcus Kemp (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Mary's Kitchener) who crossed the finish line first for the Eagles' men at the Mel Brodt as the senior miler finished in eighth place in 25:26.22, marking his second top 10 finish of the season. Just a few spots behind Kemp ran Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich./Charlevoix), who completed the 8000m course in 25:40.42, finishing in 12th.
Closely linked in spots No. 20 and No. 22 was the freshmen duo of Isaac Garcia (Greeley, Colo./South County) and Lachlan Cornelius, both of whom competed in their first 8K race Friday evening as both Eagles registered top 25 finishes. Behind the first-year Eagles was Kian Wiles (Hull, England/St. Mary's College), who ended the day placing 27th in 26:05.61. Grant Sweningson (North Tustin, Calif./Foothills) set a personal best, traversing the 8K course in 26:23.08 in his second career 8000m.
Overall the Eagles placed fourth, scoring 79 points, behind Mid-American Conference foe, the University of Akron (33), who took first, followed by Saginaw Valley State University (46) and Ohio University (58).
Women's Team Results
1. Toledo (50)
2. Ohio (60)
3. Eastern Michigan (62)
4. Central Michigan (109)
5. Bowling Green (126)
6. Western Michigan (143)
7. Ball State (153)
8. Saginaw Valley State (169)
9. Northern Illinois (273)
10. St. Clair College (325)
11. UNA-Bowling Green (NTS)
Women's Individual 6K Results
3. Esme Davies – 21:03.39
8. Marta Moreno – 21:34.03
11. Sofia Ivanko – 21:39.64
18. Anita Zaro – 21:56.18
25. Tabatha Walford – 22:09.17
47. Mackenzie Morgan – 22:55.09
53. Chloie Musta – 23:00.77
77. Laisette Rachal – 24:03.57
81. Kiera Hansen – 24:21.44
84. Destiney Rose – 24:27.42
86. Erika Van Loton – 24:35.81
92. Ella Garvin – 25:02.95
93. Kayla Muir – 25:08.20
101. Elena Wheeler – 26:08.18
102. Cara Weber – 26:31.03
Men's Team Results
1. Akron (33)
2. Saginaw Valley State (46)
3. Ohio (58)
4. Eastern Michigan (79)
5. Bowling Green (165)
6. Toledo (168)
7. Central Michigan (172)
8. St. Clair College (250)
9. UNA-Bowling Green (NTS)
Men's Individual 8K Results
8. Marcus Kemp – 25.26.22
12. Sam Peterson – 25:40.42
20. Isaac Garcia – 25:54.45
22. Lachlan Cornelius – 25:57.15
27. Kian Wiles – 26:05.61
30. Linus Vennemann – 26:10.82
37. Grant Sweningson – 26:23.08
60. Joey Furlong – 27:01.36
62. Aaron Schwieterman – 27:02.48
65. Carson Vanderschaaf – 27:05.66
Up Next
Both the Eagles' cross country teams will head down to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic to close out the opening month of the season, Sept. 30. Race details will be released in the coming weeks.
"I'm pleased with where we are at this point in the season. We competed hard and showed improvement from our first race. We're ready to get back to work and build towards our next meet in Louisville," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Sue Parks.
Appearing to already be in mid-season from in just the second meet of the 2023 campaign, Esme Davies (Lake District, England/Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) led the Eagles with a third-place finish in a personal-best 21:03.39. Finishing in eighth and missing a personal-best by a mere five seconds was Marta Moreno (Wassenaar, Netherlands/American School of The Hague), who concluded in 21:34.03, rounding out EMU's top 10 finishers.
Finishing just outside the top 10 was Sofia Ivanko (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. Matthew's College), who was tailed by Anita Zaro(Timisoara, Romania/Faculty of Physical Education and Sport), who finished her first collegiate 6K in 21:56.18. Senior Tabatha Walford (Northamptonshire, England/Bishop Stopford/Nevada) edged herself out a personal-best outing as she placed 25th in 22:09.17, besting her previous personal-best, 22:10.8.
Elena Wheeler (Plymouth, Mich./Salem) joined Davies and Walford as EMU women harriers with a career performance as she finished the 6K course in a personal-best, 26:08.18.
Overall, the women ended he day with a third-place finish.
"The guys ran a solid team race, they executed the race plan and closed well over the last 3k. We are excited to get our full lineup on the line at Louisville in a couple of weeks," said men's Head Coach Mark Rinker.
It was Marcus Kemp (Kitchener, Ontario/St. Mary's Kitchener) who crossed the finish line first for the Eagles' men at the Mel Brodt as the senior miler finished in eighth place in 25:26.22, marking his second top 10 finish of the season. Just a few spots behind Kemp ran Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich./Charlevoix), who completed the 8000m course in 25:40.42, finishing in 12th.
Closely linked in spots No. 20 and No. 22 was the freshmen duo of Isaac Garcia (Greeley, Colo./South County) and Lachlan Cornelius, both of whom competed in their first 8K race Friday evening as both Eagles registered top 25 finishes. Behind the first-year Eagles was Kian Wiles (Hull, England/St. Mary's College), who ended the day placing 27th in 26:05.61. Grant Sweningson (North Tustin, Calif./Foothills) set a personal best, traversing the 8K course in 26:23.08 in his second career 8000m.
Overall the Eagles placed fourth, scoring 79 points, behind Mid-American Conference foe, the University of Akron (33), who took first, followed by Saginaw Valley State University (46) and Ohio University (58).
Women's Team Results
1. Toledo (50)
2. Ohio (60)
3. Eastern Michigan (62)
4. Central Michigan (109)
5. Bowling Green (126)
6. Western Michigan (143)
7. Ball State (153)
8. Saginaw Valley State (169)
9. Northern Illinois (273)
10. St. Clair College (325)
11. UNA-Bowling Green (NTS)
Women's Individual 6K Results
3. Esme Davies – 21:03.39
8. Marta Moreno – 21:34.03
11. Sofia Ivanko – 21:39.64
18. Anita Zaro – 21:56.18
25. Tabatha Walford – 22:09.17
47. Mackenzie Morgan – 22:55.09
53. Chloie Musta – 23:00.77
77. Laisette Rachal – 24:03.57
81. Kiera Hansen – 24:21.44
84. Destiney Rose – 24:27.42
86. Erika Van Loton – 24:35.81
92. Ella Garvin – 25:02.95
93. Kayla Muir – 25:08.20
101. Elena Wheeler – 26:08.18
102. Cara Weber – 26:31.03
Men's Team Results
1. Akron (33)
2. Saginaw Valley State (46)
3. Ohio (58)
4. Eastern Michigan (79)
5. Bowling Green (165)
6. Toledo (168)
7. Central Michigan (172)
8. St. Clair College (250)
9. UNA-Bowling Green (NTS)
Men's Individual 8K Results
8. Marcus Kemp – 25.26.22
12. Sam Peterson – 25:40.42
20. Isaac Garcia – 25:54.45
22. Lachlan Cornelius – 25:57.15
27. Kian Wiles – 26:05.61
30. Linus Vennemann – 26:10.82
37. Grant Sweningson – 26:23.08
60. Joey Furlong – 27:01.36
62. Aaron Schwieterman – 27:02.48
65. Carson Vanderschaaf – 27:05.66
Up Next
Both the Eagles' cross country teams will head down to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic to close out the opening month of the season, Sept. 30. Race details will be released in the coming weeks.
Players Mentioned
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