Cross Country Teams Head to NCAA Great Lakes Regional
HOLLAND, Mich.--Mount Union's men's and women's cross country teams compete this Saturday at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional hosted by Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
The men's 8k race steps off at 11am and Mount Union is one of the favorites along with defending regional champion Calvin (Mich.), Albion (Mich.), Wabash (Ind.) and Case Western Reserve.
Mount Union won its 25th Ohio Athletic Conference championship two weeks ago and the Purple Raiders finished fourth at the regional meet last year to make their 19th appearance at the NCAA national meet.
Senior Ty Griffin (Massillon/Massillon Perry) won the OAC individual crown this season and last season placed fourth at the regional meet. Fellow seniors in Scott Wolfe (East Palestine/East Palestine) and Erik Reed (East Liverpool/East Liverpool) also were All-OAC selections two weeks ago.
It will be the final regional meet for longtime Mount Union men's cross country coach John Homon. Homon is in his 31st and final season as the Purple Raiders coach.
The women's 6k race starts at noon with Calvin (Mich.), Hope (Mich.) and OAC champ Ohio Northern among the team contenders.
Mount Union's top runner is senior and first-year runner Christin Handley (East Aurora, N.Y./Iroquois Central), who placed 13th at the OAC Championships to earn All-OAC Second Team honors.
Second year coach Kevin Lucas led the Purple Raiders to a fifth place finish in the OAC.
