Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Heading to Michigan Intercollegiates on Friday
10/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Cross country teams from throughout the state of Michigan will be heading to Rochester this Friday, Oct. 5 for the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships hosted by Oakland University.
The event takes place at Katke-Cousins Golf Course and features two different scored meets, a 4K and a 6K. Action begins at 3:30 p.m. p.m. The Central Michigan University Chippewas will field a team in both races.
“We are going to put those runners who will be going to the Pre-Nationals meet in the 4K since they will be running a 6K at Indiana State the next weekend,” coach Karen Lutzke said. “With a shorter race like the 4K we have to be prepared to get out fast because it is harder to make up time. Also, only four runners score in the 4K so it is a little bit different. It is just a matter of going out and competing.”
The 6K race figures to give some of CMU’s younger runners a chance to score in a team event.
“We only have two meets left before the Mid-American Conference Championships and these two races this weekend will help determine our squad of nine for the MAC meet,” Lutzke said. “This is the first year in a long time that we’ve had people fighting for spots. It’s a good thing and it will only make us better.”
The Michigan Intercollegiates meet features teams from all levels throughout the state, including Divsion I, II and III schools, along with NAIA and junior colleges. Lutzke says the team looks forward to this event because of all the familiar faces.
“This is a fun meet because it includes all kinds of people from throughout the state,” she said. “It is a chance for a lot of the competitors to see former high school teammates and compete against them. It is a real cross country celebration.”
The Chippewas are hoping they will be able to celebrate another team victory like they did two weeks ago at the Central Collegiates hosted by Western Michigan. CMU defeated three other MAC rivals as junior Kelly McClure took home the individual championship.
CMU tallied 36 points, followed by Toledo (45), Western Michigan (66) and Eastern Michigan (83).
McClure ran the 5K loop in 18:25 and for her efforts was named the MAC Runner of the Week.
“It felt good for our team to get the feeling back of winning a meet,” Lutzke said. “Everyone stepped up as a team and competed. We still have things to work on but this will help our confidence tremendously. Kelly ran a really good race. She was strong the whole meet. It was great to see her win the first meet of her career.”
Junior Amanda Rudert was fourth with a time of 18:31 and freshman Brittany Dixon placed seventh (18:50). Also scoring were senior Libby Carpenter in 11th (19:12) and freshman Rachel Wittum in 13th (19:29). Two other freshmen completed CMU’s top seven Melissa Darling in 15th (19:35) and Danielle Dakroub in 18th (19:40).
Chippewas Remain Ranked Regionally: Despite not competing last weekend the Chippewas remain ranked No. 13 in the Great Lakes Region according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Michigan State is the region’s No. 1-ranked team and the Spartans check in at No. 9 nationally. CMU is ranked fifth regionally among MAC schools.
