Cross Country Gears Up For 2024
MIDLAND, MICH. – Northwood University's men's and women's cross country is gearing up for the 2024 season. The teams announced their schedule Wednesday (August 7).
The Timberwolves open the 2024 campaign with the Northwood Invitational on Saturday, September 7. They then compete at the Warrior Challenge (September 13), Knight Invitational (Sept. 28), and Lewis Crossover (October 12) before postseason races start at the G-MAC Championships on October 26.
FOR THE MEN
The men are led by veterans Preston Earl, Carson Laney, Lucas Oberle, Sam Smith, and newcomer Baraka Sila from Maryland Baltimore County. The four returners have already entered NU's top-25 performers list for the 8K and 10K.
Last season, the men placed second at the G-MAC Championships for the second straight season and were as high as eight in the NCAA Midwest regional rankings (October 25, 2023). Earl earned First Team All-Conference honors for the Timberwolves at the G-MAC Championships, finishing ninth overall in 25:35.5. He was one of four athletes to claim All-Conference honors including Laney (12th - 25:41.4), who earned Second-Team honors.
FOR THE WOMEN
Northwood returns a bevy of veterans and young talent. Seniors Sarah Zehr and Katherine Haupt bring the leadership as juniors Rachel Sierakowski and Riley Hacker bring more depth, and rising sophomores Ariel Warner and Kaylee Locke look to move up NU's top-25 performers list.
Last season, the women's team had their highest finish (16th) in NCAA regional action since 2013. A year in which they placed 14th. All seven of Northwood's women finished with new personal bests as all moved up or into the top-25 performers list. This includes Zehr (22:04.3) and Haupt (22:30.5) moving into a tie for third and eighth respectively.
Cross Country kicks off their season with the Northwood Invitational on Saturday, September 7. The men's race begins at 10 and the women's at 10:45 a.m. at the Fisher Family Trails on Northwood's campus.