Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, September 2
Shepherd, Mich.
11:35 AM
Central Michigan University
vs
Jeff Drenth Memorial
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Cross Country Hits The Trail On Friday
9/1/2022 3:12:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Season opener at Shepherd High School kicks off 2022 season
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan cross country program kicks off the 2022 season on Friday with the 37th annual Jeff Drenth Memorial at Shepherd High School.
The event is named in honor of the late Jeff Drenth, an All-American who won back-to-back Mid-American Conference cross country titles in 1982-83. He died in 1986 while training at the Olympic Training Center.
The women's race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.; the men's at 11:35. Michigan State, Alma, Cleary, Grand Rapids Community College, Eastern Michigan and Hope join the Chippewas in the field.
The Drenth is the first of nine events in which CMU will participate in 2022. The MAC Championships are scheduled for Oct. 29 in Athens, Ohio.
"Friday is bittersweet," CMU coach Jenny Swieton said. "I am so excited to see where we are at, but I also can't help but be a little sad that is our seniors' last Drenth.
"It is pretty awesome how the newbies and the seniors and returnees have meshed this year. We have such a great team atmosphere, and they all work so hard. I am really excited to see what Friday and the season holds."
Among the top returnees to the Chippewa lineup are junior Adam Rzentkowski and sophomore Emily Paupore. Last fall, both earned Second Team All-MAC honors in 2021 with 13th-place finishes in their respective races at the MAC Championships. The Chippewa women were sixth and the men seventh in the league championships.
The Chippewa women return three other runners – Maddy Boyd, Lilly Evans and Natalie Newcombe -- who finished in the top 100 at the MAC Championships last fall.
The Chippewa men return five of their eight runners who competed in the 2021 MAC Championship. Hunter Fougner, Gabe Goosen, Owen Howard and Carson White join Rzentkowski in that group of returnees.
The event is named in honor of the late Jeff Drenth, an All-American who won back-to-back Mid-American Conference cross country titles in 1982-83. He died in 1986 while training at the Olympic Training Center.
The women's race is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.; the men's at 11:35. Michigan State, Alma, Cleary, Grand Rapids Community College, Eastern Michigan and Hope join the Chippewas in the field.
The Drenth is the first of nine events in which CMU will participate in 2022. The MAC Championships are scheduled for Oct. 29 in Athens, Ohio.
"Friday is bittersweet," CMU coach Jenny Swieton said. "I am so excited to see where we are at, but I also can't help but be a little sad that is our seniors' last Drenth.
"It is pretty awesome how the newbies and the seniors and returnees have meshed this year. We have such a great team atmosphere, and they all work so hard. I am really excited to see what Friday and the season holds."
Among the top returnees to the Chippewa lineup are junior Adam Rzentkowski and sophomore Emily Paupore. Last fall, both earned Second Team All-MAC honors in 2021 with 13th-place finishes in their respective races at the MAC Championships. The Chippewa women were sixth and the men seventh in the league championships.
The Chippewa women return three other runners – Maddy Boyd, Lilly Evans and Natalie Newcombe -- who finished in the top 100 at the MAC Championships last fall.
The Chippewa men return five of their eight runners who competed in the 2021 MAC Championship. Hunter Fougner, Gabe Goosen, Owen Howard and Carson White join Rzentkowski in that group of returnees.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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MAC Championships Interview: Jenny Swieton
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Mark Beckmann Feature
Tuesday, October 15