Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, September 18
Kalamazoo, Mich.
10 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
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George Dales Invitational
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Women's Cross Country Completes George Dales Invite
9/18/2026 11:51:00 AM | Women's XC
Six women ran personal best times in the 6k
Results
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team placed seventh out of 13 teams at the George Dales Invitational hosted by Western Michigan University at Prairies Golf Club Friday, Sept. 18, finishing with 163 points and improving on last year's eighth-place finish at the same meet.
Eastern improved its team score by 54 points compared to the 2025 George Dales Invitational, where the Eagles finished eighth with 217 points. EMU's five scoring runners crossed the line in places 16, 19, 29, 46 and 55 — a spread of 39 places — with two displacers finishing just two and three spots behind the fifth scorer, underscoring the depth the Eagles are building heading into the heart of the season.
How it Happened
Christiana Coleman (Pompano Beach, Fla./Dillard/Florida) led Eastern Michigan with a 16th-place finish in 21:45.1, and Mercy Chepkemoi (Molo, Kenya/Kaplelach Secondary School) was right behind her in 19th at 21:49.5 — just 4.4 seconds back — in what was the freshman's first collegiate 6K race. Mara Longenecker (Freeland, Mich./Freeland/Michigan) rounded out the top three for EMU, finishing 29th in 22:15.9. Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area/Rutgers) crossed in 46th at 22:40.3, setting a 6K personal record by 1.2 seconds at the same venue where she had previously set her best. Kaiya Fujioka (Whitby, Ontario/Brooklin) rounded out the scoring five with a 55th-place finish in 22:47.3 in her first collegiate 6K.
Erika Van Loton (Garden City, Mich./Huron Valley Lutheran) and Kaelyn Becken (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) finished 57th and 58th in 22:49.3 and 22:49.8, respectively. Van Loton's effort was particularly notable — her 22:49.3 represents a 6K personal record by 32.8 seconds. Becken, competing in her first collegiate 6K, added further depth to a tight pack. Frankie Moore (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) finished 78th in 23:19.9, Ella Luker (Columbus, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) placed 81st in 23:29.1 in her first collegiate 6K, Liv Hatch (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) finished 93rd in 23:54.4 and Alynna Wilson (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) crossed 143rd in 27:13.8.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan returns to action Friday, Oct. 2, at the Joe Piane Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
Follow Us
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Women's Team Results
1. Akron – 37 Points
2. Bowling Green – 66 Points
3. Western Michigan – 69 Points
4. Saginaw Valley – 124 Points
5. Dayton – 138 Points
6. Ball State – 161 Points
7. Eastern Michigan – 163 Points
8. Central Michigan – 193 Points
9. Oakland – 200 Points
10. Grace – 272 Points
11. Marian (Ind.) – 323 Points
12. Hope – 362 Points
13. Ferris State – 380 Points
Women's Individual Results
*Denotes Personal-Best
16. Christiana Coleman – 21:45.1
19. Mercy Chepkemoi – 21:49.5*
29. Mara Longenecker – 22:15.9
46. Sophie Emin – 22:40.3*
55. Kaiya Fujioka – 22:47.3*
57. Erika Van Loton – 22:49.3*
58. Kaelyn Becken – 22:49.8*
78. Frankie Moore – 23:19.9
81. Ella Luker – 23:29.1*
93. Liv Hatch – 23:54.4
143. Alynna Wilson – 27:13.8
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team placed seventh out of 13 teams at the George Dales Invitational hosted by Western Michigan University at Prairies Golf Club Friday, Sept. 18, finishing with 163 points and improving on last year's eighth-place finish at the same meet.
Eastern improved its team score by 54 points compared to the 2025 George Dales Invitational, where the Eagles finished eighth with 217 points. EMU's five scoring runners crossed the line in places 16, 19, 29, 46 and 55 — a spread of 39 places — with two displacers finishing just two and three spots behind the fifth scorer, underscoring the depth the Eagles are building heading into the heart of the season.
How it Happened
Christiana Coleman (Pompano Beach, Fla./Dillard/Florida) led Eastern Michigan with a 16th-place finish in 21:45.1, and Mercy Chepkemoi (Molo, Kenya/Kaplelach Secondary School) was right behind her in 19th at 21:49.5 — just 4.4 seconds back — in what was the freshman's first collegiate 6K race. Mara Longenecker (Freeland, Mich./Freeland/Michigan) rounded out the top three for EMU, finishing 29th in 22:15.9. Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area/Rutgers) crossed in 46th at 22:40.3, setting a 6K personal record by 1.2 seconds at the same venue where she had previously set her best. Kaiya Fujioka (Whitby, Ontario/Brooklin) rounded out the scoring five with a 55th-place finish in 22:47.3 in her first collegiate 6K.
Erika Van Loton (Garden City, Mich./Huron Valley Lutheran) and Kaelyn Becken (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) finished 57th and 58th in 22:49.3 and 22:49.8, respectively. Van Loton's effort was particularly notable — her 22:49.3 represents a 6K personal record by 32.8 seconds. Becken, competing in her first collegiate 6K, added further depth to a tight pack. Frankie Moore (Columbia, Md./Oakland Mills) finished 78th in 23:19.9, Ella Luker (Columbus, Ohio/Jonathan Alder) placed 81st in 23:29.1 in her first collegiate 6K, Liv Hatch (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) finished 93rd in 23:54.4 and Alynna Wilson (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon) crossed 143rd in 27:13.8.
Up Next
Eastern Michigan returns to action Friday, Oct. 2, at the Joe Piane Invitational in South Bend, Ind.
Follow Us
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Women's Team Results
1. Akron – 37 Points
2. Bowling Green – 66 Points
3. Western Michigan – 69 Points
4. Saginaw Valley – 124 Points
5. Dayton – 138 Points
6. Ball State – 161 Points
7. Eastern Michigan – 163 Points
8. Central Michigan – 193 Points
9. Oakland – 200 Points
10. Grace – 272 Points
11. Marian (Ind.) – 323 Points
12. Hope – 362 Points
13. Ferris State – 380 Points
Women's Individual Results
*Denotes Personal-Best
16. Christiana Coleman – 21:45.1
19. Mercy Chepkemoi – 21:49.5*
29. Mara Longenecker – 22:15.9
46. Sophie Emin – 22:40.3*
55. Kaiya Fujioka – 22:47.3*
57. Erika Van Loton – 22:49.3*
58. Kaelyn Becken – 22:49.8*
78. Frankie Moore – 23:19.9
81. Ella Luker – 23:29.1*
93. Liv Hatch – 23:54.4
143. Alynna Wilson – 27:13.8
Players Mentioned
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ 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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