Women’s cross country isn’t satisfied with runner-up finish last season

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he Central Michigan women’s cross country team made strides last season, finishing second at the Mid-American Conference Championships.

However, finishing in the top half of the MAC for the past five years isn’t satisfying enough; they’re out for first.

“It’s all about making sure the athletes are finishing in the highest place possible,” said cross country director Willie Randolph. “Last year we were one lady short of making that happen.”

The Chippewas are returning five of their top nine runners from the MAC Championship meet, including the top two runners, Raeannne Lohner and Krista Parks. Maddie Ribant, along with Lohner and Parks, finished in the top 30 of the MAC.

“With a whole other year of training under coach (Matt) Kaczor, we’ll be more prepared for the run at the end of the season,” Ribant said.

Randolph thinks the incoming freshmen could make a difference for the team this season. Luran Duncan from Sylvania, Ohio; Alysaa Dyer from Ada and Breanne Lesner from Freeland., are the freshmen on the team.

“The recruiting class looks pretty solid,” Randolph said. “If they run the way we need to on the day that it counts, it’ll be very different compared to last year.”

The women have to focus on their goals in order to finish were they want at the end of the season.

“We need to be selfless and work together toward a MAC championship,” Ribant said.

The Chippewas look to become the first team in program history to finish in the top 10 in the region for their third straight season.