Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Head to Great Lakes Regional
11/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Saturday could be the season finale for the Central Michigan University men's cross country team as it heads to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships at Purdue.
The Boiermakers are hosting the championships at the Purdue Varsity Cross Country Course. The women's 6K begins at 11 a.m. with the men's 10K set for 11:45.
The top two teams in each race qualify for the NCAA Championships, along with the top four individuals not on a qualifying team. A limited number of teams and individuals are selected for at-large berths by the national committee.
"A 10K plays to our strengths a little more as we are a better team the longer we go," assistant coach Matt Kaczor said. "Typically, the 5000 and 10,000 are two of our best events during the track season and a lot of our guys race better at this distance.
"We are treating it like an 8K, though. We are going to try and hit our normal 8K splits and then just keep it going for the final 2K."
The regional features four of the nation's top 30 ranked teams, including No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 9 Michigan, No. 27 Notre Dame and No. 28 Indiana.
CMU is not ranked in the regional poll which includes 15 teams.
"We're looking to get into the top 15," Kaczor said. "We are looking to beat some teams who barely beat us at different events this season."
The Chippewas do have experience on the course as CMU ran in the Great American Legends race there on Sept. 5. Sophomore Sammy Kiprotich finished third overall in the meet.
"It is a fair course with a few hills and some good long straightaways," Kaczor said. "It is not too hilly and not too flat."
Set to compete for the Chippewas are Kiprotich, Riak Mabil, Chris Pankow, Matt Lutzke, Jeremy Kiley, Sean Anthony and Donnie Richmond.
The regional team rankings heading into the meet are, in order: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Butler, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Marquette, Kent State, Indiana State, Dayton and Oakland.
The Boiermakers are hosting the championships at the Purdue Varsity Cross Country Course. The women's 6K begins at 11 a.m. with the men's 10K set for 11:45.
The top two teams in each race qualify for the NCAA Championships, along with the top four individuals not on a qualifying team. A limited number of teams and individuals are selected for at-large berths by the national committee.
"A 10K plays to our strengths a little more as we are a better team the longer we go," assistant coach Matt Kaczor said. "Typically, the 5000 and 10,000 are two of our best events during the track season and a lot of our guys race better at this distance.
"We are treating it like an 8K, though. We are going to try and hit our normal 8K splits and then just keep it going for the final 2K."
The regional features four of the nation's top 30 ranked teams, including No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 9 Michigan, No. 27 Notre Dame and No. 28 Indiana.
CMU is not ranked in the regional poll which includes 15 teams.
"We're looking to get into the top 15," Kaczor said. "We are looking to beat some teams who barely beat us at different events this season."
The Chippewas do have experience on the course as CMU ran in the Great American Legends race there on Sept. 5. Sophomore Sammy Kiprotich finished third overall in the meet.
"It is a fair course with a few hills and some good long straightaways," Kaczor said. "It is not too hilly and not too flat."
Set to compete for the Chippewas are Kiprotich, Riak Mabil, Chris Pankow, Matt Lutzke, Jeremy Kiley, Sean Anthony and Donnie Richmond.
The regional team rankings heading into the meet are, in order: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Butler, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Marquette, Kent State, Indiana State, Dayton and Oakland.
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