Chippewa Cross Country Battles Hard in Kalamazoo: CMU Women 2nd, Newcombe 3rd All-Time in 6k

Friday, September 20

Kalamazoo, MI

11 a.m.

Central Michigan University

George Dales Invite

Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography

Chippewa Cross Country Battles Hard in Kalamazoo: CMU Women 2nd, Newcombe 3rd All-Time in 6k

9/20/2024 8:11:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Full Results (PDF)CMU MXC TFRRS Page CMU WXC TFRRS Page

Natalie Newcombe finishes 2nd in 63-runner field, CMU men make strides on Friday

By: Katherine Schultz

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — It's been almost a month since Central Michigan Cross Country has last raced, with schedule adjustments keeping the Chippewas from competition for a few weeks out of the 2024 season.

From the way the Chippewas performed at the George Dales Invite in Kalamazoo on Friday morning, it has not held them back in the slightest.

Natalie Newcombe continued to make strides in her fifth and final season, running the third-fastest all time 6k in CMU Women's Cross Country history, two more Chippewa runners ran top 20 all-time speeds, and in total, 16 CMU runners made personal-best time.

"We had a really good day," said Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Jenny Swieton. "The team as a whole put themselves in a position to battle the whole way, there were so many breakthrough performances."

Newcombe crossed the finish line for the women's 6k in second with a time of 20:31.4. Following her were Jessie Gibbins, who ran a personal-best time of 21:14.0, and Kate Jenkins, who ran a personal-best 21:34.6. Gibbins and Jenkins finished 7^th and 13^th in the race, respectively, and ran the 12^th and 18^th-fastest women's 6ks in CMU history.

"Nat ran so tough to PR again and etch her name on the all-time list in the 6k," said Swieton. "Jessie went out more aggressive than usual and it paid off, and Kate put herself in it and was relentless. Our newbies also stepped up big as well, we had so many breakthroughs."

Running in their first collegiate 6ks and 8ks were Chippewa women Logan Brazee, Nikki Carothers, Logan Creasey, Olivia East, Joanna Kelley, Miranda McNeil and Ava Teed, and for the men, Andrew Floros, Greg Janesak and Miciah Smith.

In the women's race, Teed finished 17^th and McNeil was 20^th. As a team, CMU finished 2^nd of 5, ahead of Mid-American Conference competitors Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan as well as nonleague competitor Oakland University.

"It is nice to see other MAC schools in meets," said Swieton. "It really brings out the competitiveness in the group."

Alongside Gibbins, Jenkins and Newcombe, the Chippewas saw personal records from Maya Guikema, Lauren hasty, Emma Janesak, Ambria Nagel, Emma Netzel and Chesney Wilke.

For the CMU men, Blake Chipman led the way, finishing 6^th in the 8k with a personal-best time of 24:55.7. He was followed by Ethan Leitner, who was 8^th, and Nick Cockerel in 10^th.

"I couldn't be more happy with our men," said Swieton. "That was the best team race they have run in years. They fought every step of the way, and we had the best six and seven in the field.

"So many big time performances, and they did it together. Our one-to-five spread was only 22 seconds, which is huge!"

Chipman, Leitner and Cockerel all ran personal-bests, alongside Jason Fredricks, Aiden Smith, Hong Bing Tang and Carson White.

Fredricks finished 11^th, White 12^th, Greg Janesak 14^th, Clay Kuiper 16^th and Aiden Smith 19^thin a 38-runner field.

""I am so proud of how deep they are all willing to dig for each other," said Swieton. "Like we always say, we are better together!"

The Chippewas compete next on Oct. 4, with plans for a trip to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.

Follow Central Michigan Cross Country/Track & Field
TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK

— CMU —