NMU XC ready for GLIAC Championships

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University cross country team travels to Midland, Mich. for the 2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday (Oct. 20).

“The girls are prepared and ready to go,” NMU coach Jenny Ryan said. “Everyone is healthy.”

Saturday’s races will be held at the Maple Leaf Golf Course in Linwood, Mich. The women’s 6-kilometer race begins at 11 a.m. Also scheduled are the men’s 8K at 11:45 a.m. and a 12:30 p.m. open race.

“We raced at the same course in 2009 at the regional championship,” Ryan said. “It’s pretty flat and a nice fast course.”

The Wildcats finished eighth at last year’s championship. Larissa Halonen was the first Northern runner to cross the finish line, placing 25th with a time of 23:40.26.  Next for the ‘Cats was Mandy Dye in 40th place with a time of 24:07.71. Also in the top 50 were Katie Granquist (42nd), Chelsea Farquhar (45th) and Rita Woitas (47th).

“Grand Valley is always strong and Ferris is running very well,” Ryan added. “After that there is a fight for the third through seven spots.”

Admission to the GLIAC Championship is free for all spectators.