Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, August 29
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
11:00 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Jeff Drenth Memorial
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Cross Country Begins 2025 Season Friday at Jeff Drenth Memorial
8/27/2025 3:00:00 PM | Men's XC, Women's XC
The women’s 5k starts at 11 a.m. while the men’s 5k starts at 11:35 a.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University cross country programs are set to start their season Friday, Aug. 29, at the Jeff Drenth Memorial, hosted by Central Michigan University, at Shepherd High School, in Shepherd, Mich. Both the women and men will be racing the 5k, with the women starting at 11 a.m. and the men starting at 11:35 a.m.
Fans can stay tuned to EMUEagles.com for a post-meet recap with full results attached. Fans can also track live timing results here.
A NEW COACH IN TOWN
Eastern Michigan Track & Field Co-Directors, Chris Best and Sterling Roberts announced the hiring of Jenna Zydanowicz as an Assistant Distance Coach, Aug. 20. This season will mark Zydanowicz' coaching debut after graduating from the cross country and track and field programs at the University of Connecticut earlier this year. During her collegiate career, she was a three-time captain for both cross country and track and field seasons. She holds school records in the 1000 meter, 3000m, and distance medley relay, along with holding second-place program times in the mile, 1500m, and 5000m. Zydanowicz was an NCAA Individual Qualifier in 2024, and an NCAA First Round Qualifier in 2025.
EXPERIENCED LEADER
Women's Head Coach Sue Parks is back for her 20th season at the helm of the program. Under Parks, the Eagles have won five MAC Championships, all of which came consecutively as EMU dominated the conference with five titles in as many seasons (2015-19). Parks also holds five MAC Coach of the Year titles and was a MAC Champion herself as she took home the gold from 1976-78 for Eastern. Coach Parks has announced her retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season.
WOMEN'S RETURNERS
The Eastern women return 10 runners from the 2024 squad. The Eagle's top-three returners from last year's MAC Tournament include sophomore Liv Hatch (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso), sophomore Lucy Jones (Haverhill, England/Normanhurst), and senior Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle).
MEN'S RETURNERS
The men's team has 11 returning Eagles. Eastern's top-three returners from last year's MAC Tournament include All-MAC second-team honoree, senior Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich./Charlevoix), All-MAC second-team honoree, junior Ronan Codyre (Auckland, New Zealand/Macleans College), and junior Ty Dailey (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney).
NEW EAGLES
The Eagles welcome a combined three new athletes to the 2025 season. New to the men's team is Wyatt Houchens (Cincinnati Ohio/St. Xavier/Cincinnati), and Ben Mussen (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth). New to the women's team is Christiana Coleman (Pompano Beach, Fla./Dillard/Florida).
LAST TIME AT THE JEFF DRENTH MEMORIAL
The men finished first with 31 points, and the women finished in second place with 38 points. The men's program saw four runners place in the top 10, while the women had three. The men in the top 10 included Peterson, Lachlan Cornelius (Queensland, Brisbane, Australia/Anglican Church Grammar School), Dailey, and Codyre. The women's top runners consisted of former Eagles, Marta Moreno and Anita Zaro, along with Jones. All fourteen of the men ran a personal best, along with 10 of the women.
UP NEXT
Eastern Michigan next competes at the George Dales Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Friday, Sept. 19.
FOLLOW US
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF
Fans can stay tuned to EMUEagles.com for a post-meet recap with full results attached. Fans can also track live timing results here.
A NEW COACH IN TOWN
Eastern Michigan Track & Field Co-Directors, Chris Best and Sterling Roberts announced the hiring of Jenna Zydanowicz as an Assistant Distance Coach, Aug. 20. This season will mark Zydanowicz' coaching debut after graduating from the cross country and track and field programs at the University of Connecticut earlier this year. During her collegiate career, she was a three-time captain for both cross country and track and field seasons. She holds school records in the 1000 meter, 3000m, and distance medley relay, along with holding second-place program times in the mile, 1500m, and 5000m. Zydanowicz was an NCAA Individual Qualifier in 2024, and an NCAA First Round Qualifier in 2025.
EXPERIENCED LEADER
Women's Head Coach Sue Parks is back for her 20th season at the helm of the program. Under Parks, the Eagles have won five MAC Championships, all of which came consecutively as EMU dominated the conference with five titles in as many seasons (2015-19). Parks also holds five MAC Coach of the Year titles and was a MAC Champion herself as she took home the gold from 1976-78 for Eastern. Coach Parks has announced her retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season.
WOMEN'S RETURNERS
The Eastern women return 10 runners from the 2024 squad. The Eagle's top-three returners from last year's MAC Tournament include sophomore Liv Hatch (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso), sophomore Lucy Jones (Haverhill, England/Normanhurst), and senior Cara Weber (Union, Ky./Larry A. Ryle).
MEN'S RETURNERS
The men's team has 11 returning Eagles. Eastern's top-three returners from last year's MAC Tournament include All-MAC second-team honoree, senior Sam Peterson (Charlevoix, Mich./Charlevoix), All-MAC second-team honoree, junior Ronan Codyre (Auckland, New Zealand/Macleans College), and junior Ty Dailey (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney).
NEW EAGLES
The Eagles welcome a combined three new athletes to the 2025 season. New to the men's team is Wyatt Houchens (Cincinnati Ohio/St. Xavier/Cincinnati), and Ben Mussen (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth). New to the women's team is Christiana Coleman (Pompano Beach, Fla./Dillard/Florida).
LAST TIME AT THE JEFF DRENTH MEMORIAL
The men finished first with 31 points, and the women finished in second place with 38 points. The men's program saw four runners place in the top 10, while the women had three. The men in the top 10 included Peterson, Lachlan Cornelius (Queensland, Brisbane, Australia/Anglican Church Grammar School), Dailey, and Codyre. The women's top runners consisted of former Eagles, Marta Moreno and Anita Zaro, along with Jones. All fourteen of the men ran a personal best, along with 10 of the women.
UP NEXT
Eastern Michigan next competes at the George Dales Invitational, hosted by Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Friday, Sept. 19.
FOLLOW US
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF
Players Mentioned
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Men's XC
/ Women's XC
/ Women's XC
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