Preseason Predictions and Performance

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) women’s cross country team is looking to improve this fall, having been projected to finish sixth out of 11 teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason poll. This marks an improvement from their seventh-place finish at the GLIAC Championships last year, where NMU performed strongly, outpacing the eighth-place team by over 100 points.

Key Contributors and Returning Talent

Senior Madi Szymanski is expected to lead the Wildcats this season, following her impressive 2023 performance where she finished eighth in the GLIAC Championships and twelfth at the NCAA Division II regionals, setting a personal record of 20:55.83.

Unfortunately, an injury sidelined her during most of the 2024 season, but her return is highly anticipated. Other notable returning athletes include:

• Beverly Harper
• Sophia Potter
• Lamar Gordon
• Dani Van Lente
• Emma Sweeney
• Celia Wallace
• Lola Korpi
• Brooke Lemos

Additionally, NMU welcomes a promising freshman class, highlighted by Ashley Choponis and Maija Maki-Warne, as well as local talents Monet Argeropolous and Abby Harma from Marquette.

Coaching and Team Dynamics

Head Coach Jenny Ryan, now in her 19th year, expressed her enthusiasm for the team’s dynamics, noting that “over the summer, the athletes did a really good job at training.” She believes that the current team culture is among the best in her coaching history, suggesting a promising potential for the season ahead.

Upcoming Competitions

The Wildcats commenced their season with the exhibition Wildcat Invitational, where Szymanski led the squad, clocking a time of 18:34.8. The competitive schedule continues with the Phoenix Open hosted by Wisconsin-Green Bay, set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Following this, the team will participate in additional meets leading to the GLIAC Championships in Grand Rapids on October 25.