Friday, September 19
Kalamazoo, Mich.
10:00 am
Central Michigan University
at
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
George Dales Classic
Photo by: Lauren Verellen '26 - @laurenverellen_photography
Hoffman, Leitner Lead Chippewa Runners at Western Michigan Dales Invitational
9/19/2025 1:25:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
CMU women finish third, men place fourth
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Central Michigan women's cross country team was third and the men finished fourth on Friday at the Western Michigan George Dales Invitational at the Prairies Golf Club.
It was CMU's second event of the season after the Chippewas' Jeff Drenth Invitational. The CMU men were second and the women finished third in that eight-team event, which was contested on Aug. 29.
"I'm really excited with where we are starting the season, and I know that we're just going to progress from here," CMU coach Jenny Swieton said. "We have room to move up on some of those teams as the season progresses. It was a good finish for where we're at at this point in the season."
Freshman Kyah Hoffman led the Chippewa women with a 10th-place finish, while senior Ethan Leitner led the men with a 13th-place finish. The women ran a 6K; the man an 8K.
Ohio put six runners in the top 10 in finishing first in the women's team standings with 22 points. Western Michigan (78) was second and the Chippewas finished with 100. Oakland won the men's even with 46 events, followed by Ohio (62), Dayton (64) and the Chippewas (109).
Ten teams comprised the women's event; nine comprised the men's.
Also for the CMU women, Grace VanderKooi was 18th, Maya Guikema was 22nd, Kate Jenkins placed 23rd, and Emma Janesak finished 27th.
Hoffman finished in 21:23.2, good for 16th on CMU's all-time listing. Allie Martin of Ohio won in 21:02.4.
"She just went for it from the gun," Swieton said of Hoffman, who was also the Chippewas' top finisher (sixth) at the season-opening Drenth. "She was a little bit more hesitant at the Drenth, but today I think she was like, 'I'm just going to go for it and see what happens.' She's a competitor. I'm excited for her."
Leitner posted a 25:22.2 clocking for his 13th-place finish in the men's race. Also for CMU, Jason Fredricks finished 17th, Miciah Smith was 23rd, Greg Janesak was 24th, and Joey Taverna finished 32nd.
"Ethan went for it from the gun," Swieton said. "He put himself in the position that he wanted to finish and it really paid off in the end."
The Chippewas next go to the Paul Short Classic, hosted by Lehigh, in Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday, Oct. 3.
It was CMU's second event of the season after the Chippewas' Jeff Drenth Invitational. The CMU men were second and the women finished third in that eight-team event, which was contested on Aug. 29.
"I'm really excited with where we are starting the season, and I know that we're just going to progress from here," CMU coach Jenny Swieton said. "We have room to move up on some of those teams as the season progresses. It was a good finish for where we're at at this point in the season."
Freshman Kyah Hoffman led the Chippewa women with a 10th-place finish, while senior Ethan Leitner led the men with a 13th-place finish. The women ran a 6K; the man an 8K.
Ohio put six runners in the top 10 in finishing first in the women's team standings with 22 points. Western Michigan (78) was second and the Chippewas finished with 100. Oakland won the men's even with 46 events, followed by Ohio (62), Dayton (64) and the Chippewas (109).
Ten teams comprised the women's event; nine comprised the men's.
Also for the CMU women, Grace VanderKooi was 18th, Maya Guikema was 22nd, Kate Jenkins placed 23rd, and Emma Janesak finished 27th.
Hoffman finished in 21:23.2, good for 16th on CMU's all-time listing. Allie Martin of Ohio won in 21:02.4.
"She just went for it from the gun," Swieton said of Hoffman, who was also the Chippewas' top finisher (sixth) at the season-opening Drenth. "She was a little bit more hesitant at the Drenth, but today I think she was like, 'I'm just going to go for it and see what happens.' She's a competitor. I'm excited for her."
Leitner posted a 25:22.2 clocking for his 13th-place finish in the men's race. Also for CMU, Jason Fredricks finished 17th, Miciah Smith was 23rd, Greg Janesak was 24th, and Joey Taverna finished 32nd.
"Ethan went for it from the gun," Swieton said. "He put himself in the position that he wanted to finish and it really paid off in the end."
The Chippewas next go to the Paul Short Classic, hosted by Lehigh, in Bethlehem, Pa. on Friday, Oct. 3.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Amy Folan Podcast: Welcoming the MacKinnons
Thursday, January 16
MAC Championships Interview: Emily Paupore
Saturday, November 02
2023 MAC Women's XC Championships - Emily Paupore
Saturday, October 28
2023 MAC Cross Country Championships - Jenny Swieton
Saturday, October 28