Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Cross Country Picked to Repeat as Champions, Women, 10th
8/21/2008 11:56:39 AM | Men's XC, Women's XC
Men return five All-MAC selections while the women return oneor
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Eastern Michigan University men's cross country team was picked to win the 2008 Mid-American Conference Cross Country title, as voted on by the league's head cross country coaches. The EMU women were picked to finish 10th, a one spot improvement over last season.
Eastern is coming of it's third straight league title in men's cross country, 13th in school history. The Eagles totalled 31 points en route to the victory last season at the MAC Championship. Eighth-year head coach John Goodridge returns a veteran senior class, including the 2007 individual MAC Champion, senior Josh Perrin (Hillsdale, Mich.-Hillsdale) and fellow first-team selections seniors Josh Karanja (Ottawa, Canada-Nepean) and David Brent (Monroe, Mich.-St. Mary's Catholic). The Green and White also return second-team All-MAC selections in junior Curtis Vollmar (Grand Blanc, Mich.- Grand Blanc) and senior Kyle Mena (Portage, Mich.-Portage). The Eagles will return seven redshirt freshmen from the 2007 squad and welcome five newcomers.
Miami was picked to finish second behind Eastern Michigan. The RedHawks were followed by Central Michigan and Kent State in third, while Akron and Ohio rounded out the top six spots in the poll. Buffalo, Toledo and Bowling Green rounded out the men’s poll.
For the women, the Eagles, who finished 11th last season, return five letterwinners to the squad, including 2007 All-MAC selection, senior Melissa Green (Brecksville, Ohio-Brecksville/Broadview Heights). Green leads a very young team including sophomore Beverly Elcock (Ft. Wayne, Ind.-Norhtrop), junior Megan Flewelling (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Powers Catholic), sophomores Morgan Newman (Grand Blanc, Mich.-Grand Blanc.) and Lauren Quaintance (White Lake, Mich.-White Lake Northern) who all look to make strides during the 2008 season. The Green and White will welcome nine freshmen to the team.
On the women’s side, Akron was picked to finish tops in the MAC after finishing second at last year’s MAC Women’s Cross Country Championships. Ohio was selected second on the women’s side after claiming the 2007 team title, while Miami was tabbed to finish third. Toledo, Ball State and Central Michigan filled out the top six sports in this year’s poll. Bowling Green (seventh), Kent State (eighth), Western Michigan (ninth), Eastern Michigan (10th), Buffalo (11th) and Northern Illinois (12th) rounded out the women’s poll.
The 2008 Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, are schedule to be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008.
2008 MAC Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Akron
2. Ohio
3. Miami
4. Toledo
5. Ball State
6. Central Michigan
7. Bowling Green
8. Kent State
9. Western Michigan
10. Eastern Michigan
11. Buffalo
12. Northern Illinois
Predicted Women’s Cross Country Champion: Akron
2008 MAC Men’s Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Miami
T3. Central Michigan
T3. Kent State
5. Akron
6. Ohio
7. Buffalo
8. Toledo
9. Bowling Green
Predicted Men’s Cross Country Champion: Eastern Michigan
