Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, September 28
Chicago, Ill.
TBA
Central Michigan University
at
Loyola Lakefront Invitational
Photo by: Robert Barclay
Cross Country Heads To Chicago For Loyola Lakefront Invite
9/27/2019 2:23:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, MTF, Women's Cross Country, Track & Field
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan cross country teams will partake on Saturday (noon) in the 42nd Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago.
It is the Chippewas' first competition since the men placed first and the women were third on Sept. 6 at the Northern Illinois Huskie Challenge.
Testing Progress
For the Chippewas, Saturday's meet represents a chance to analyze and evaluate where they stand as they move closer to the Mid-American Conference championships.
In the large gap between this meet and the last, CMU has upped the intensity of their training to prepare themselves for the all-important meets coming up on the schedule, coach Jenny Swieton said.
"Because we haven't raced in a few weeks, we've had two and a half really hard weeks of training," said Swieton. "We're definitely going to go into this race tired, but it just helps you learn how to push when you don't feel perfect, evaluate where we are in our training, and see where we might need to make a tweak here and there to get to where we want to be for MAC."
Points of Emphasis
In the last few weeks, Swieton and men's distance coach Jason Hartmann have emphasized a broad-based training, one that aims to develop the complete athlete and not just a runner, she said.
"We both try to make sure that we're not just runners, we're athletes too," Swieton said. "We try to keep them well rounded as far as work on strength and stamina with hard long runs, but also work on speed and do 200s and stuff that's shorter. I don't think there's really an area that we're neglecting right now."
Runners
Due to a combination of health and fatigue, CMU will rest a few of its top runners. Seven runners will participate for the men's team, while 13 or 14 will run for the woman, Swieton said.
"We do have a couple key people on both sides that are resting for this meet," she said. "There are just a couple people that are a little banged up or sick, so they need some rest. … Just that time of the year."
Despite the fatigue and illness issues, Swieton said her team is right on track and where she would like them to be at this point in the season.
"I think they look awesome," she said. "They are coming together really, really well. Some of the people that we kind of needed to make a jump are starting to make that jump."
It is the Chippewas' first competition since the men placed first and the women were third on Sept. 6 at the Northern Illinois Huskie Challenge.
Testing Progress
For the Chippewas, Saturday's meet represents a chance to analyze and evaluate where they stand as they move closer to the Mid-American Conference championships.
In the large gap between this meet and the last, CMU has upped the intensity of their training to prepare themselves for the all-important meets coming up on the schedule, coach Jenny Swieton said.
"Because we haven't raced in a few weeks, we've had two and a half really hard weeks of training," said Swieton. "We're definitely going to go into this race tired, but it just helps you learn how to push when you don't feel perfect, evaluate where we are in our training, and see where we might need to make a tweak here and there to get to where we want to be for MAC."
Points of Emphasis
In the last few weeks, Swieton and men's distance coach Jason Hartmann have emphasized a broad-based training, one that aims to develop the complete athlete and not just a runner, she said.
"We both try to make sure that we're not just runners, we're athletes too," Swieton said. "We try to keep them well rounded as far as work on strength and stamina with hard long runs, but also work on speed and do 200s and stuff that's shorter. I don't think there's really an area that we're neglecting right now."
Runners
Due to a combination of health and fatigue, CMU will rest a few of its top runners. Seven runners will participate for the men's team, while 13 or 14 will run for the woman, Swieton said.
"We do have a couple key people on both sides that are resting for this meet," she said. "There are just a couple people that are a little banged up or sick, so they need some rest. … Just that time of the year."
Despite the fatigue and illness issues, Swieton said her team is right on track and where she would like them to be at this point in the season.
"I think they look awesome," she said. "They are coming together really, really well. Some of the people that we kind of needed to make a jump are starting to make that jump."
MAC Championships Interview: Miciah Smith
Saturday, November 02
MAC Championships Interview: Jenny Swieton
Saturday, November 02
Mark Beckmann Feature
Tuesday, October 15