Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's XC
Jenna Zydanowicz
- Title:
- Assistant Coach (Distance)
- Email:
- jzydanow@emich.edu
Jenna Zydanowicz enters her second season in 2026-27 as an assistant distance coach for the Eastern Michigan University cross country and track and field programs after being hired in the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign.
In the 2025-26 track and field season, the women’s team finished in fifth place at the 2026 MAC Outdoor Championships, scoring 75 points. Zydanowicz saw distance runner Sophie Emin place seventh in the 800m in 2:10.92. Also in the outdoor season, Christiana Coleman etched her name into the outdoor program top 10, running the 800m in 2:02.09 at the Spec Towns Invitational for spot No. 10.
The men earned second place at the MAC Championships with 148.5 points, seeing the distance squad score 36 points, with Kian Wiles winning the 1500m in 3:48.30.
In the indoor season, Zydanowicz saw the women’s distance athletes score a total of six points in the 800m at the 2026 MAC Indoor Championships, as both Sophie Emin (fourth) and Christiana Coleman (eighth) ran podium finishes. The women’s team finished eighth with 40 points. Earlier in the indoor season, Emin also won the 800m at the Bob Parks Memorial in 2:12.81.
The men finished the indoor season in third place with 98 points, as distance athlete Kian Wiles earned double gold, winning both the mile (4:07.31) and the 800m (1:52.47), and the men’s distance squad scored a total of 48 points.
In her first cross country season as an Eagle, Zydanowicz assisted the women’s team to a team win at the Jenna Strong Fall Classic with 66 points, as Liv Hatch claimed first place in the race with a time of 18:04.0, followed by Lucy Jones, who took second place in 18:29.8. The team also earned a third-place finish with 85 points at the Joe Piane Invitational, as Hatch finished in the top 10 with a best time of 17:42.1.
The women finished 10th at the MAC Cross Country Championships with 296 points, while the men finished sixth with 119 points, and Kian Wiles earned All-MAC Second Team honors after finishing eighth, running the 8k in 24:33.2.
Zydanowicz began her coaching debut after graduating from the cross country and track and field programs at the University of Connecticut in 2025. A five-year member of the Huskies’ programs (2020-2025), she earned her Bachelor of Science in allied health sciences and her Master’s of Public Health, along with a multitude of athletic achievements.
During her collegiate career, she was a three-time captain for both cross country and track and field seasons. She holds school records in the 1000 meter, 3000m, and distance medley relay, along with holding second-place program times in the mile, 1500m, and 5000m. Zydanowicz was an NCAA Individual Qualifier in 2024, and an NCAA First Round Qualifier in 2025.
In her time at UConn, she was a part of eight team conference championships, along with earning an Individual Big East Conference Championship in the 5000m in 2025 and collecting ten all-conference selections. She also received Cross Country Northeast All-Region Honors (2023, 2024), and the Big East Sports Excellence Award (2024-2025).
Outside of her athletic accomplishments, Zydanowicz also received recognition for academic and leadership excellence. She was the Big East Representative at the NCAA Leadership Forum, an Academic All-American selection five times, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee Health and Wellness Coordinator (2023-2025), and the Student Athlete Representative for Mental Health Working Group (2023-2025). Zydanowicz also has experience as the Student Youth Outreach and Education Assistant for UConn Husky Nutrition and Sport (2024-2025).
The West Hartford, Conn., native attended William Hall High School, where she also had an impressive cross country and track and field career. Zydanowicz received both cross country and track and field All-State honors multiple years, along with being named All-New England Cross Country (2018, 2019), and All-New England Track and Field (2016-2020).
The Zydanowicz File
Name: Jenna Zydanowicz
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
High School: William Hall High School
Education: University of Connecticut – Bachelor of Science (2024)
Education: University of Connecticut – Master’s in Public Health (2025)
Experience
Year(s) – School – Position
2025-pres. – Eastern Michigan University – Assistant Coach
2020-2025 – University of Connecticut – Student Athlete
In the 2025-26 track and field season, the women’s team finished in fifth place at the 2026 MAC Outdoor Championships, scoring 75 points. Zydanowicz saw distance runner Sophie Emin place seventh in the 800m in 2:10.92. Also in the outdoor season, Christiana Coleman etched her name into the outdoor program top 10, running the 800m in 2:02.09 at the Spec Towns Invitational for spot No. 10.
The men earned second place at the MAC Championships with 148.5 points, seeing the distance squad score 36 points, with Kian Wiles winning the 1500m in 3:48.30.
In the indoor season, Zydanowicz saw the women’s distance athletes score a total of six points in the 800m at the 2026 MAC Indoor Championships, as both Sophie Emin (fourth) and Christiana Coleman (eighth) ran podium finishes. The women’s team finished eighth with 40 points. Earlier in the indoor season, Emin also won the 800m at the Bob Parks Memorial in 2:12.81.
The men finished the indoor season in third place with 98 points, as distance athlete Kian Wiles earned double gold, winning both the mile (4:07.31) and the 800m (1:52.47), and the men’s distance squad scored a total of 48 points.
In her first cross country season as an Eagle, Zydanowicz assisted the women’s team to a team win at the Jenna Strong Fall Classic with 66 points, as Liv Hatch claimed first place in the race with a time of 18:04.0, followed by Lucy Jones, who took second place in 18:29.8. The team also earned a third-place finish with 85 points at the Joe Piane Invitational, as Hatch finished in the top 10 with a best time of 17:42.1.
The women finished 10th at the MAC Cross Country Championships with 296 points, while the men finished sixth with 119 points, and Kian Wiles earned All-MAC Second Team honors after finishing eighth, running the 8k in 24:33.2.
Zydanowicz began her coaching debut after graduating from the cross country and track and field programs at the University of Connecticut in 2025. A five-year member of the Huskies’ programs (2020-2025), she earned her Bachelor of Science in allied health sciences and her Master’s of Public Health, along with a multitude of athletic achievements.
During her collegiate career, she was a three-time captain for both cross country and track and field seasons. She holds school records in the 1000 meter, 3000m, and distance medley relay, along with holding second-place program times in the mile, 1500m, and 5000m. Zydanowicz was an NCAA Individual Qualifier in 2024, and an NCAA First Round Qualifier in 2025.
In her time at UConn, she was a part of eight team conference championships, along with earning an Individual Big East Conference Championship in the 5000m in 2025 and collecting ten all-conference selections. She also received Cross Country Northeast All-Region Honors (2023, 2024), and the Big East Sports Excellence Award (2024-2025).
Outside of her athletic accomplishments, Zydanowicz also received recognition for academic and leadership excellence. She was the Big East Representative at the NCAA Leadership Forum, an Academic All-American selection five times, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee Health and Wellness Coordinator (2023-2025), and the Student Athlete Representative for Mental Health Working Group (2023-2025). Zydanowicz also has experience as the Student Youth Outreach and Education Assistant for UConn Husky Nutrition and Sport (2024-2025).
The West Hartford, Conn., native attended William Hall High School, where she also had an impressive cross country and track and field career. Zydanowicz received both cross country and track and field All-State honors multiple years, along with being named All-New England Cross Country (2018, 2019), and All-New England Track and Field (2016-2020).
The Zydanowicz File
Name: Jenna Zydanowicz
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.
High School: William Hall High School
Education: University of Connecticut – Bachelor of Science (2024)
Education: University of Connecticut – Master’s in Public Health (2025)
Experience
Year(s) – School – Position
2025-pres. – Eastern Michigan University – Assistant Coach
2020-2025 – University of Connecticut – Student Athlete
2025-26 EMU Athletics In-Review
Tuesday, April 21
Thank You from EMU Cross Country/Track & Field!
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - EMU Cross Country/Track & Field
Monday, December 01
Giving Tuesday 2025 - Eastern Michigan Track & Field
Monday, December 01
