Friday, November 15
Norton, Ohio
11 a.m.
Central Michigan University
at
NCAA Great Lakes Regional
Photo by: MCS Media
"A Perfect Day": Paupore Punches Ticket to Nationals at NCAA Great Lakes Regional
11/15/2024 7:01:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Emily Paupore became the third CMU women's cross country athlete to ever qualify for NCAA Cross Country Championships on Friday.
NORTON, Ohio — Emily Paupore's legacy in the maroon and gold continues.
The Negaunee, Mich. senior became the third Central Michigan Women's Cross Country runner in program history to punch her ticket to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships by securing a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday at Silver Creek Metro Park.
She earned an automatic individual bid with a 19:36.9 finish in the women's 6k, which reset her own CMU women's cross country 6k record, a feat she accomplished on Nov. 2 at MAC Championships.
"Going into the race I knew that I was going to run as bold as I could," said Paupore. "I didn't have much to lose. I think I was flying under the radar a little bit, and going into the race, even though I haven't run super great all season, I felt like I belonged in the group I was in.
"We went up a hill around 3k-4k, and I just felt great. Going downhill, I hugged the leaders and I was just so excited and shocked because I was not expecting myself to be there. I was really excited, kind of surprised, but it all just fell together on a perfect day."
Paupore joins Suzy Somers and Abbey Kelto in the record books for the accomplishment. Somers was the first to race in the Championship in 1989. Kelto qualified in 2014.
"(Emily) went by me a little bit before 4k and she was legitimately smiling," said Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton, who has coached Emily for all five years of her collegiate career. "When I saw her in third (place) I was like, 'This is going to happen'".
"It was a perfectly executed race. She just gave her all from start to finish and it showed in the result, and it was really, really cool to see. You could tell that she knew she belonged there, that she could hang in the race. At the end, she ran over to me and it was a big teary hug, her mom came over and we cried and hugged and we were like, 'Wow, that just happened'".
The senior will compete for the national title on Nov. 23 at the Zimmer Cross Country Course in Madison, Wis.
Paupore led the women to a 13th-place finish out of 32 teams. Comprising the women's squad were Natalie Newcombe (42nd), Jessie Gibbins (90th), Maya Guikema (99th), Joanna Kelley (114th), Chesney Wilke (150th) and Jelena Prescott (171st).
The Chippewa men finished 18th of 31 teams, their best finish since 2019.
Junior Blake Chipman led the men, running a personal-best 31:34.4 in the 10k for a 97th place finish.
All six returning runners ran personal-bests in the men's 10k.
Chipman was followed by sophomore Aiden Smith, who placed 108th with a time of 31:47.0, then by Miciah Smith in his first attempt at the Regional, finishing 111th with a time of 31:48.3.
Also for CMU were Ethan Leitner (114th), Carson White (123rd), Jason Fredricks (124th) and Clay Kuiper (141st).
"We talked going into the race, to not relax at the top of the hill, to keep pushing up and over to run your race," said Swieton. "The men and the women, they both ran the race they needed to run in order to do their best.
"Last year the men finished second-to-last in regional, so 18 out of 31 is a huge improvement. It was a really, really good day for them. Collectively, we had a really good day all-around, it was so exciting."
It was the final collegiate cross country race for White, Newcombe and Prescott, who were honored at the season-opening Jeff Drenth Memorial for their time to the program.
"The thing that makes me happiest today is our seniors, Carson, Jelena, Emily and Natalie," said Swieton. "It's just so awesome for them to end on such a high note collectively for both teams.
"It was a huge step forward and that is a product of them being here and working hard to build the culture and build the success of these teams over the past four, five years and I think it was cool to see that everything that they've done is paying off."
The Negaunee, Mich. senior became the third Central Michigan Women's Cross Country runner in program history to punch her ticket to the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships by securing a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Friday at Silver Creek Metro Park.
She earned an automatic individual bid with a 19:36.9 finish in the women's 6k, which reset her own CMU women's cross country 6k record, a feat she accomplished on Nov. 2 at MAC Championships.
"Going into the race I knew that I was going to run as bold as I could," said Paupore. "I didn't have much to lose. I think I was flying under the radar a little bit, and going into the race, even though I haven't run super great all season, I felt like I belonged in the group I was in.
"We went up a hill around 3k-4k, and I just felt great. Going downhill, I hugged the leaders and I was just so excited and shocked because I was not expecting myself to be there. I was really excited, kind of surprised, but it all just fell together on a perfect day."
Paupore joins Suzy Somers and Abbey Kelto in the record books for the accomplishment. Somers was the first to race in the Championship in 1989. Kelto qualified in 2014.
"(Emily) went by me a little bit before 4k and she was legitimately smiling," said Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton, who has coached Emily for all five years of her collegiate career. "When I saw her in third (place) I was like, 'This is going to happen'".
"It was a perfectly executed race. She just gave her all from start to finish and it showed in the result, and it was really, really cool to see. You could tell that she knew she belonged there, that she could hang in the race. At the end, she ran over to me and it was a big teary hug, her mom came over and we cried and hugged and we were like, 'Wow, that just happened'".
The senior will compete for the national title on Nov. 23 at the Zimmer Cross Country Course in Madison, Wis.
Paupore led the women to a 13th-place finish out of 32 teams. Comprising the women's squad were Natalie Newcombe (42nd), Jessie Gibbins (90th), Maya Guikema (99th), Joanna Kelley (114th), Chesney Wilke (150th) and Jelena Prescott (171st).
The Chippewa men finished 18th of 31 teams, their best finish since 2019.
Junior Blake Chipman led the men, running a personal-best 31:34.4 in the 10k for a 97th place finish.
All six returning runners ran personal-bests in the men's 10k.
Chipman was followed by sophomore Aiden Smith, who placed 108th with a time of 31:47.0, then by Miciah Smith in his first attempt at the Regional, finishing 111th with a time of 31:48.3.
Also for CMU were Ethan Leitner (114th), Carson White (123rd), Jason Fredricks (124th) and Clay Kuiper (141st).
"We talked going into the race, to not relax at the top of the hill, to keep pushing up and over to run your race," said Swieton. "The men and the women, they both ran the race they needed to run in order to do their best.
"Last year the men finished second-to-last in regional, so 18 out of 31 is a huge improvement. It was a really, really good day for them. Collectively, we had a really good day all-around, it was so exciting."
It was the final collegiate cross country race for White, Newcombe and Prescott, who were honored at the season-opening Jeff Drenth Memorial for their time to the program.
"The thing that makes me happiest today is our seniors, Carson, Jelena, Emily and Natalie," said Swieton. "It's just so awesome for them to end on such a high note collectively for both teams.
"It was a huge step forward and that is a product of them being here and working hard to build the culture and build the success of these teams over the past four, five years and I think it was cool to see that everything that they've done is paying off."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men'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
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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