Central Michigan University Athletics
Proving ground: Chippewa Runners Head to MSU
9/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - It'll be a chance for some of the younger, less-experienced runners to prove themselves and get their feet wet.
That's the approach Central Michigan cross country coach Matt Kaczor is taking Friday as the Chippewas partake in the Spartan Invitational at Michigan State.
The women's race, a 6K, is scheduled to begin at 11:50 a.m., the men's, an 8K, at 12:20 p.m. The races will be contested on Forest Akers East Golf Course. More than 30 collegiate teams are expected to take part.
The Chippewas will not run some of their top-line runners so that they may rest for next week's Roy Griak Invitational, hosted by Minnesota.
"For the men, it's really about trying to get some of the young guys some experience," said Kaczor, who added that top-of-the-lineup runners Nate Ghena, Joseph Emmanuel and Silas Dekalita will not run at MSU.
Instead, Kaczor said, he is hoping to see what the likes of Monte Scott, Spencer Nousain and Casey Voisin can do, and how the Chippewas in general can run as a pack. Freshmen Luke Anderson, Mark Beckman, Alec Esparza and Ben Yagiela will round out the Chippewa lineup.
"We're not trying set records (or) beat other teams," he said. "I want to see us get this group of guys try to get them closer together. If we can do that then it'll be a huge success."
CMU's top four female runners, Kirsten Olling, Breanne Lesnar, Megan O'Neil and Alyssa Dyer, won't run, giving Kaczor an opportunity to take a long look at his deep roster under game conditions.
The lineup will be comprised juniors Esther Bell, Jamie Madrigal, Brooke Morgan, Kelly Schubert and Katie Weiler along with sophomore Hannah Davis and freshmen Katie Kasper and Samantha Allmacher.
Nine runners per team will compete at the Griak in Minnesota next week, and Friday's race at MSU will go a long way in determining who those nine Chippewas will be.
"They've got to try and separate themselves," Kaczor said. "Placement and all that stuff is going to be a big indicator who'll be at the line when we go to Minnesota."
Players Mentioned
