Akron Set to Host 54th Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

Friday, September 1

Norton, Ohio

6:15 PM

University of Akron

54th Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

Akron Set to Host 54th Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

August 31 | Cross Country

MEET INFORMATION | TEAM AND HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE PARKING | SPECTATOR PARKING | LIVE STATS

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron men's and women's cross country squads will open their 2023 campaign hosting the 54th annual Tommy Evans Invitational this Friday, Sept. 1, at the Silver Creek Cross Country Park (MAP) in Norton, Ohio (4325 S Medina Line Rd, Norton | OH 44203-5840).

The Tommy Evans Invitational will mark the seventh year for the Zips to race on the dedicated cross-country course at Silver Creek Metro Park. The women's 5K race will open the meet at 6:15 p.m. followed by the men's 6K race at 6:45 p.m. Joining Akron in the field will be Akron (M/W), Baldwin Wallace (M/W), Bowling Green (M/W), Case Western (M/W), Kent State (M/W), John Carroll (M/W), Lake Erie (M/W), Malone (M/W), Mount Union (M/W), Ohio (M/W), Otterbein (M/W), Toledo (M/W), Walsh (M/W), Wittenberg (M/W) and Youngstown State (M/W).

The Akron cross country team under the leadership of head coach Dr. Tim Sykes is set for the 2023 campaign led by seniors Makenna Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) and Chase Easterling (Mt. Orab, Ohio).

Junior Danielle Honaker (Ashland, Ohio) is Akron's top returner finisher on the women's side after crossing the line for the Zips in a career-best time of 22:22.0 at the 2022 Mid-American Conference Championships.

Rounding out Akron's scoring efforts at the MAC Championships was the trio of junior Halle Sebest (Poland, Ohio), Makenna Heimlich and junior Hannah Kerr (Chillicothe, Ohio), who registered times of 22:38.1 (PR), 23:02.2 (PR) and 23:26.7 (PR), respectively. Additionally, junior Emerson Rainsburg (Dover, Ohio), redshirt junior Maddie Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio), redshirt junior Julia Frombach (Avon, Ohio) and junior Grace Henderson (Rostraver Township, Ohio) added times of 23:39.3 (PR), 23:49.8 (PR), 23:50.8 (PR) and 23:58.5 (PR) at the MAC Championships.

Additionally, junior Brianna Martino (East Canton, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Emily Razo (Salem, Ohio) and newcomers Laura Genetin (Navarre, Ohio), Kayla Gonzales (Shelby, Ohio), Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio), Lauren LaRue (Oregon, Ohio), Mary Munga (Nyandarua, Kenya), Danielle Orr (Uniontown, Ohio) and Kayla Sucharski (Galena, Ohio) round out Akron's women's roster in 2023.

This year marks the return of the Akron men's cross country. Sophomore Brian Masai (Kitale, Kenya), who captured the 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the 2023 MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, headlines the Akron squad this season. He will be joined by track standouts junior Jean Dieuvil (North Miami Beach, Fla.), Easterling, freshman Zayd Elkurd (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), sophomore Anthony Nichols (Silver Lake, Ohio) and junior Kyle Stober (Mogadore, Ohio), along with freshman newcomers Majid Abuaun (Rocky River, Ohio), Timothy Chesondin (Eldorat, Kenya), Ian Deeter (Norwalk, Ohio) and Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya).

The Zips continue their campaign traveling to Bowling Green, Ohio, for Mel Brodt Collegiate Open on Sept. 15.