Friday, October 4
South Bend, Ind.
10:30 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational
Photo by: MCS Media
Cross Country Thrives at Notre Dame; Men 5th of 18, Paupore Bests Own Program Record
10/4/2024 7:35:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Women's Cross Country led by Paupore, Newcombe; Men's by Cockerel, Chipman
SOUTH BEND, Ind. —Last October, at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, Emily Paupore made history by setting CMU Women Cross Country's 5k record of 16:51.2.
Friday, at this year's Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, she knocked her old record out of the park.
The Negaunee, Mich. senior finished 26th in the women's blue 5k in 16:43.5, among a field of runners from three of the NCAA's top-five nationally ranked programs, Northern Arizona, BYU and the Fighting Irish.
She was quickly followed to the finish by Natalie Newcombe, who also had a special race for the CMU women. With a little help from Paupore's new record, the Mecosta, Mich. senior ran the second-fastest 5k in CMU history.
Newcombe shaved 11 seconds from her previous personal best time, which she ran on Aug. 30 to win the Jeff Drenth Memorial 5k, to finish 39th on Friday in 16:52.6.
On top of Paupore and Newcombe's accomplishments, the Chippewa cross country programs combined for 17 personal-best times resulting in, all around, a day that Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton was beyond proud of.
"We're super excited about the races today," said Swieton. "The women's field was absolutely loaded with three of the top five teams in the NCAA in the race, and the ladies gained great experience. Emily had a great opener and Natalie kept doing what she's been doing all season, which is awesome."
The CMU men had another standout race, following up on a strong performance at Western Michigan's George Dales Invite on Sept. 20.
As a squad, the Chippewas finished 5th of 18 teams in the gold 8k race and collected seven top-100 finishes in the 150-runner field.
"The men knocked it out of the park," said Swieton. "The improvement they've seen over the last year is amazing and I'm just so excited that we get to watch it."
The CMU men finished ahead of reigning Mid-American Conference Champion Akron, which finished 10th as a team.
Sophomore Nick Cockerel led the way for the Chippewas, finishing 37th in a personal-best time of 24:55.7. Shortly behind were Blake Chipman (43rd), Ethan Leitner (44th) and Jason Fredericks (48th).
Leitner, Fredericks and Clay Kuiper also ran personal-best times, alongside freshman Miciah Smith, who ran in the men's open 8k.
The CMU women finished 20th in the women's blue 5k, ahead of Purdue and Mississippi State, as well as 4th of 8 teams in the women's open 5k.
Alongside Paupore and Newcombe, Jessie Gibbins, Emma Janesak, Kate Jenkins, Joanna Kelley, Jelena Prescott, Ava Teed, Chesney Wilke, Logan Brazee, Nikki Carothers and Lois Creasey all ran personal-best races.
CMU has one race left on the 2024 regular season slate, Wisconsin's Pre-Nationals, which will be hosted on Oct. 19 in Madison, Wis. The 2024 MAC Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, hosted by Ball State, in Muncie, Ind.
Friday, at this year's Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, she knocked her old record out of the park.
The Negaunee, Mich. senior finished 26th in the women's blue 5k in 16:43.5, among a field of runners from three of the NCAA's top-five nationally ranked programs, Northern Arizona, BYU and the Fighting Irish.
She was quickly followed to the finish by Natalie Newcombe, who also had a special race for the CMU women. With a little help from Paupore's new record, the Mecosta, Mich. senior ran the second-fastest 5k in CMU history.
Newcombe shaved 11 seconds from her previous personal best time, which she ran on Aug. 30 to win the Jeff Drenth Memorial 5k, to finish 39th on Friday in 16:52.6.
On top of Paupore and Newcombe's accomplishments, the Chippewa cross country programs combined for 17 personal-best times resulting in, all around, a day that Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton was beyond proud of.
"We're super excited about the races today," said Swieton. "The women's field was absolutely loaded with three of the top five teams in the NCAA in the race, and the ladies gained great experience. Emily had a great opener and Natalie kept doing what she's been doing all season, which is awesome."
The CMU men had another standout race, following up on a strong performance at Western Michigan's George Dales Invite on Sept. 20.
As a squad, the Chippewas finished 5th of 18 teams in the gold 8k race and collected seven top-100 finishes in the 150-runner field.
"The men knocked it out of the park," said Swieton. "The improvement they've seen over the last year is amazing and I'm just so excited that we get to watch it."
The CMU men finished ahead of reigning Mid-American Conference Champion Akron, which finished 10th as a team.
Sophomore Nick Cockerel led the way for the Chippewas, finishing 37th in a personal-best time of 24:55.7. Shortly behind were Blake Chipman (43rd), Ethan Leitner (44th) and Jason Fredericks (48th).
Leitner, Fredericks and Clay Kuiper also ran personal-best times, alongside freshman Miciah Smith, who ran in the men's open 8k.
The CMU women finished 20th in the women's blue 5k, ahead of Purdue and Mississippi State, as well as 4th of 8 teams in the women's open 5k.
Alongside Paupore and Newcombe, Jessie Gibbins, Emma Janesak, Kate Jenkins, Joanna Kelley, Jelena Prescott, Ava Teed, Chesney Wilke, Logan Brazee, Nikki Carothers and Lois Creasey all ran personal-best races.
CMU has one race left on the 2024 regular season slate, Wisconsin's Pre-Nationals, which will be hosted on Oct. 19 in Madison, Wis. The 2024 MAC Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2, hosted by Ball State, in Muncie, Ind.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
MAC Championships Interview: Miciah Smith
Saturday, November 02
MAC Championships Interview: Jenny Swieton
Saturday, November 02
Mark Beckmann Feature
Tuesday, October 15