CMU runners head to Notre Dame
After solid performances Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota, the Central Michigan University cross-country team has set its sights on the Mid-American Conference championship and beyond.
The men are seated eighth in the Great Lakes region and sit behind seventh-ranked Eastern Michigan University, the only other ranked MAC team.
“If we do better at Notre Dame, this could be the year we finally knock Eastern off,” said head coach Matt Kaczor
Despite tough heat and high humidity in Falcon Heights, the Chippewas’ top three runners, Nate Ghena, Spencer Nousain and Ethan Lievense, were reintroduced to competition after several weeks of training.
Ghena had an outstanding race, placing 37th overall and finishing with a time of 25:43.8.
“The Griak is a pretty tough meet. He was competing with a lot of all-regional, all-American athletes,” Kaczor said.
Transfer student Silas Dekalita and senior Ethan Lievense finished in 82nd and 92nd, respectively.
With Ghena leading the pack, and Lievense, Nousian and Dekalita not far behind, the chances of the Chippewas taking the MAC title this year are better than ever.
The team’s biggest strength is its depth. Four strong runners at the front of the pack are essential in rallying points for the Maroon and Gold harriers, but the number of athletes competing for the number five spot is really what gives Central its edge.
Senior Ben Wynsma, who took 156th, Tanner Pensonen, 194th, and Monte Scott, 200th, are all strong runners competing for the spot with true freshman Alec Toreki, who finished first on the team at the Michigan State University Invitational, freshman Joseph Emmanuel, and sophomore Casey Voisin.
“We’re probably double digits deep,” Kaczor said.
With this year’s strength in numbers, CMU has a better chance than ever at edging out EMU to take the MAC championship. This year, the meet will be held at home at 11 a.m., Nov. 14 at the Riverwood golf course.
“Training has been going really well. People have been really stepping up this year,” Ghena said. “Our groups have been looking really good. It’s the fastest we’ve run workouts since I’ve been here.”
The Chippewas also have a shot at advancing as a team to the National meet, held by Indiana State in late November.
Today at 4:15 p.m., the Chippewas will compete at the Notre Dame Invite in South Bend, Ind.
