Cross Country Men Picked 7th; Women Picked 9th
8/31/2015 3:38:00 PM | Cross Country
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State Golden Flashes cross country teams were picked seventh (men) and ninth (women), announced by the Mid-American Conference on Tuesday, September, 1st as voted on by all of the leagues' coaches.
Kent State's cross-country teams look to improve on their finish at the Mid-American Conference Championships from a year ago. In 2014 the women's team finished in eighth as the men came in sixth.
The men's team finished in sixth and heads into the season eyeing to finish inside the top-4 at the conference championships. Last year Matt Kahl led the way at the championships with a 14th place finish, with Mitchell Grose running in second on our team for 32nd place.
"I would like to see us improve on last year's conference finish," head coach Mark Croghan said. "We are going to be most successfully by running together as a tight pack, with a group of guys that are similar in talent."
The Golden Flashes return key guys in fifth-year senior Samuel Allen (Bay Village, Ohio), redshirt-senior Grant Onken (Dublin, Ohio), junior Mitchell Grose (Marietta, Ohio), sophomore Nick Schank (Twinsburg, Ohio), while adding two key newcomers Brandon Avers (Bowling Green, Ohio) and Bayley Tow (Van Wert, Ohio).
"We have a good mix of young guys and veterans," Coach Croghan added. "They will push each other in practice, and keep each other accountable in races. Brandon (Avers) and Bayley (Tow) have the ability to compete right away for a spot in the top-7."
The women's team came in eighth last year and looks to break into the top half of the conference this season. Kelsey McAlpine paced the Flashes a season ago with a 17th place finish, just ahead of Rachel Slingluff, who came across in 23rd.
"I think Rachel has the ability and is motivated to compete for a spot on the All-MAC team," Coach Croghan mentioned.
Kent State brings back a veteran core of seniors Rachel Slingluff (Chesterland, Ohio), Brigid Callaghan (Newmarket, Ontario), redshirt juniors Kristen Bergmeyer (Akron, Ohio), Hannah Fleck (Celina, Ohio), Taylor Wickey (Medina, Ohio), Lindsey Myers (Woodville, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Lauren Burnett (Macomb, Mich.) and sophomores Madison Spreitzer (Stow, Ohio) and Morgan Bing (North Canton, Ohio). The top newcomer for the women's squad is Morgan Arena (Medford, New Jersey).
Coach Croghan stated, "The women did a much better job of competing at the MAC championships last year and I would like to see us build on that."
Kent State opens their season at the Tommy Evans Invite on Thursday, September 10th in Akron, Ohio. The MAC Championships are held by the Akron Zips this year on Saturday, October 31st in Akron, Ohio.
For a look inside the Golden Flashes 2015 schedule, click HERE.
Click HERE for the MAC Release. Toledo's women's team and Eastern Michigan's men's teams were picked to repeat as the Mid-American Conference champions this year.
