Central Michigan University Athletics
Women's Cross Country Sending Six to Michigan Intercollegiates
10/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MOUNT PLEASANT Some new faces will have a chance to emerge for the Central Michigan University women’s cross country team this Friday at the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships.
Coach Karen Lutzke is holding out most of the team’s top runners in order to rest them for upcoming meets and solidify the starting lineup.
“We have to narrow the roster down for the upcoming meets, because we have to, not because we want to,” Lutzke said. “We’re looking to give this group the opportunity to see what they can do in a competitive setting. The team is competing three straight weeks and this is a tough course so we are looking to hold people out.”
The six Chippewas who are scheduled to compete in the scored 5K are Holly Anderson, Amy Glover, Kelly Koblyczyk, Andrea Kramer, Abbey Moran and Rachael Wessel.
Collegiate teams of all levels from across the state are scheduled to run, from Division I schools to community colleges. The meet is being held at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Mich. The women’s race begins at 4 p.m. with the men’s race set for 4:45 p.m.
“This is a tough course where a lot of high school meets are held,” Lutzke said. “A lot of the people who are going to be competing in the meet have been there before. They know where the hills and everything are out there. It is a challenging course and the weather is supposed to be nice so it should be a fun day.”
The Chippewas climbed into the Great Lakes Regional rankings this week at No. 14. The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association started ranking teams last week and will continue to do so until Nov. 10.
“Getting into the rankings is good for the program,” Lutzke said. “They don’t mean too much, though, because you still have to go out and compete. The rankings allow you to see where you are at and it is a reward that keeps you working hard to improve your ranking.”
Next week, the Chippewas have their final tune-up before the Mid-American Conference Championships on Nov. 1 at Eastern Michigan. Central is headed to Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 18 for Pre-Nationals at the NCAA Championships course.
