The NMU cross-country team placed ninth overall in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship this past weekend in Evansville, IN, marking the first time the team has cracked the top-10 since 2017.
The race was full of personal records for the ‘Cats as six out of seven runners ran for their best time. Two of those top runners for NMU were sophomore Gianna Hoving and junior Skylar Grubb both having broken their personal records by over one minute.
“Definitely some awesome performances by the team and such a young team. I’m really happy with how we finished up the season,” Head Coach Jenny Ryan said.
Sophomore Madi Szymanski finished first for the Wildcats and placed twelfth overall at the meet, leading her to qualify for the NCAA championship next weekend. Szymanski also hit her personal record at the Midwest Regional Championship by shaving 40 seconds off her previous time from earlier in the season.
“I was so impressed with her race. She just hung in there strong and finished strong. And I mean, 12 in that region, which is pretty incredible,” Ryan said.
In order to qualify individually for the NCAA championship, a runner needs to be selected. Szymanski earned an at-large selection on Nov. 6 and will be representing the Wildcats. This is the first time since 1999 that an NMU runner has been selected at-large. Szymanski also earned All-Region honors.
“Madi is just going to keep moving forward, and now she’s gonna get that chance to run at the National Championships, which will also be good for her,” Ryan said. “But also for the team because she’ll come back and be able to kind of tell them what it was like, and tell them what the experience [was like] so that they’re ready to go next year … she has a good career right now, but ahead of her two to two more years, exciting to see what she can do. ”
The NCAA championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Joplin, MO, concluding the cross country season. As the ‘Cats close out the season they will be saying goodbye to two members of their team who are the only seniors on the team. The two seniors are Lily Majestic and Hilary Way.
“Really exciting is it’s not easy to make it as a team or an individual. So actually, it’s even harder as an individual … it’s just … such a great thing,” Ryan said.
