The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Akron Set to Host MAC Cross Country Championships
October 28 | Cross Country
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2015 MID-AMERICAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE | LIVE RESULTS | MEN'S 8K COURSE MAP (PDF) | WOMEN'S 6K COURSE MAP (PDF)
AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron will play host this Saturday, Oct. 31, to the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships at Canton GlenOak High School. The men's 8K race will kick off festivities at 11 a.m. followed by the women's 6K race at noon.
The nine-team field in the men's championship includes squads from Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami University, Ohio and Toledo. All 12 conference schools will be participating in the women's race.
The Zips are in search of their first-ever men's league title after garnering runner-up finishes to Eastern Michigan at each of the last two conference championships.
"Eastern Michigan is the defending champion and favorite again this year," Akron head men's coach Lee LaBadie commented. "We have run a strong second two years in a row and we are ready to challenge them as a team on Saturday. Let the race begin."
Akron will be led by a quartet of 2014 All-MAC performers in junior Clayton Murphy (New Paris, Ohio), seniors Kyle Cochrun (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) and Trevor Norris (Avon Lake, Ohio) and junior Dan Zupan (Berea, Ohio).
Norris, Cochrun, sophomore Garrett Crichlow (Twinsburg, Ohio) and Murphy are the Zips' top finishers in each of Akron's four races this fall, at the Tommy Evans Invitational (Norris), Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational (Cochrun), All-Ohio Championships (Crichlow) and NCAA Pre-National Invitational (Murphy).
At the NCAA Pre-Nationals, Murphy, Zupan and Cochrun ran the first-, second- and third-fastest 8K times in program history as the trio crossed the line in 24:03.9, 24:23.0 and 24:28.8, respectively.
Rounding out the Zips' contingent of runners in the race will be freshman Jeremiah Fitzgerald (Mantua, Ohio), senior Aaron Howkins (Stow, Ohio), sophomore Eric McCabe (Hilliard, Ohio) and freshman Joe Rossetti (Stow, Ohio).
Senior Jillian Roth (North Canton, Ohio) and junior Natalie Zidd (Hinckley, Ohio) lead a young Akron women's squad looking to improve on its showing from a year ago.
I'm pleased with our preparation for the MAC Cross Country Championships thus far and I'm looking forward to see how our young team executes on the big stage," said Akron head women's coach David Gramlich. "We only have two ladies back from last year's MAC team, so I am relying on the leadership of Jillian (Roth) and Natalie (Zidd) to help the rest of the team know what to expect and how to perform when needed."
After missing the entire 2014 campaign due to injury, Roth returns to the MAC Championship where she finished the 6K course in 2013 as the second Zip across the line in a time of 22:25.17, which was good for 32nd place.
Roth has been Akron's top finisher in each of the Zips' first four races this fall at the Tommy Evans Invitational, Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational, All-Ohio Championships and NCAA Pre-National Invitational.
Zidd is Akron's top-returning finisher from the 2014 MAC Championship as she covered the course in 22:33 (50th place).
Rounding out the Zips' contingent running at the MAC Championship will be redshirts sophomore Alexandra Blair (Akron, Ohio), freshmen Morgan Buckley (Howland, Ohio) and Cynthia Haas (Tallmadge, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Sarah Kupniewski (Erie, Pa.), freshman Tarike Osuobeni (Columbus, Ohio), redshirt junior Abbie Shea (Salem, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Tara Snipes (Covington, Ohio).
Admission to the meet is free. Parking will be available for spectators in the Canton GlenOak High School parking lot closest to the football stadium for $10 per car. Spectator parking entrance will use 1801 Schneider Street NE, Canton Ohio 44721. The race will finish inside the football stadium with spectator seating available.
GlenOak High School is located between Schneider and Easton Streets. The football stadium is to the North of the school near Easton Street.
To get to Schneider Street and parking, fans should take Everhard Road East until it dead ends into Main Street (Cleveland Ave). Turn left on Main Street and go one block to Easthill Street (55th Street). Turn right on Easthill and go east until Market Avenue. Turn left on Market Avenue and go North until reaching Schneider Street where you will turn right. The high school is on your left.
Players Mentioned
