Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Gear Up for 'The Biggie'
10/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Nate Perry,CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Every season has its ebbs and flows, and this one has been no different for the Chippewa cross country teams.
However, all of that is behind them as they will compete in their most important race to date on Saturday, the Mid-American Conference Championships.
The race will is scheduled at Kent State University Golf Course. The women will run first at 11a.m., with the men to follow.
All nine men on the CMU roster will participate in the race, which is nothing new to them, and CMU coach Matt Kaczor is looking for his seniors, Casey Voisin or Spencer Nousain, to lead the pack as they have all season.
"It's always about the seniors (at the MAC meet)," Kaczor said. "Spencer and Casey have done a lot for the program and worked their butts off, and you hope that those guys can put together their best meet because this is the one you will always remember."
Still, the dependency on youth will decide where the Chippewa men will place in the final standings. For many of them, it will be their first conference meet.
"A lot of them haven't run in a MAC meet before, but you have to grow up sooner or later," Kaczor said. "Hopefully they'll capitalize on their opportunity to put their name on the program."
The Chippewa women will look to build off the strong performance they turned in at Pre-National Invitational two weeks ago, in which they placed eighth out of 25 teams.
The three runners who have emerged as the top group on the team -- Kelly Schubert, Kirsten Olling and Megan O'Neil -- were extremely strong in that race, place 14th, 35th and 36th, respectively.
The wildcard, however, was senior Hannah Davis who broke out to finish 52nd and filled the No. 4 spot for the team.
"That was by far the most confident I have seen her run, and it's carried on in these last two weeks of workouts," Kaczor said. "She's feeling good, and at the perfect time."
The Chippewas' No. 5 runner at Pre-Nationals, Samantha Allmacher, will miss the MAC Championships because of an injury.
"Will we take a hit?" Kaczor said, "who knows? But I know we have plenty of ladies on this roster who are capable of stepping up and filling that void."
Eastern Michigan is the defending champion on both the men's side and the women's side. The Chippewas will run in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday, Nov. 11, in Madison, Wis.
Players Mentioned
