The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Penn State National
Zips Travel to Penn State National in Final Tune-Up Before MAC Championships
October 13 | Cross Country
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AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's and women's cross country teams will get in their final preparation races before the Mid-American Conference Championships, Oct. 29, as the squads travel to University Park, Pa., to compete in the Penn State National on Friday, Oct. 14.
The Akron women are among 18 schools taking part in the 6K race that begins at 11:30 a.m. The Zips' men will run in the 5.2 mile race as one of 15 squads starting at 12:15 p.m.
Competing schools include; Akron, Bucknell, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cornell, Delaware (Women), Duquesne, Kent State, Lehigh (Women), Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Texas, Towson, Villanova (Men), Virginia (Men), Virginia Tech, West Virginia, William and Mary and Wyoming (Women).
"This meet will offer us the opportunity to go up against a number of nationally-ranked teams and regional powerhouses this week," Akron head men's cross country coach Lee LaBadie commented. "With Buffalo and Kent State also competing, the meet will provide a good test for us to get ready for the MAC Championships in two weeks."
"I am looking forward to our meet at Penn State this week as it is our last tune-up before the MAC Championships," said Zips' women's head cross country coach David Gramlich. "Penn State has invited a spectacular field so we will get a chance to run against some of the best in the country. We need to work on our pack and pushing ourselves through the middle of the race so that we are primed and ready to compete at the MAC Championship."
Sophomore Joe Rossetti (Stow, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Elizabeth Mosier (Austintown, Ohio) headlined the performances for the Zips' men's and women's cross country teams in the squad's last competition at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships on Sept. 30.
Mosier directed the efforts for the Zips' women's squad for the second consecutive race, crossing the line in 22:52.8, good for a 33rd-place showing. As a team, Akron garnered a sixth-place team finish among Division I schools.
For the men, Rossetti turned in the Zips' top performance finishing 46th with a time of 26:18.4, as Akron finished sixth in the overall Division I team standings.
The Zips return to competition traveling to Kent, Ohio for the Mid-American Conference Championships on Oct. 29.
Players Mentioned
