ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University Men and Women's Cross Country will make the trek to Terre Haute, Indiana on Friday, November 11 for the 2022 NCAA Cross Country Regionals in the 10,000-kilometer and 6,000-kilometer races.
The top two squads in each region will automatically qualify for the 2022 NCAA Cross Country National Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma later this month while a committee will select at-large berths following the regionals.
Yami Albrecht out-kicked the competition at the 2022 #HLXC Championships in Rochester two weeks ago for the win in 24:44.0 as the individual winner out of 100 harriers while Grace Nolan took seventh on the women's side with a time of 22:15.6, racing to a First Team All-League selection while Rachel Kempf earned Second Team honors in 15th at 22:42.7.
SCOUTING REPORT
Following the Badgers' Big Ten win in Ann Arbor, Wisconsin is ranked number one in the latest USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional Rankings on the men's side with Notre Dame in tow ahead of Michigan, Butler, and Michigan State. #HLXC opponents Youngstown State and IUPUI make their debuts at No. 13 and No. 15, respectively, heading into Friday.
The Fighting Irish are the top-ranked team in the women's race by the USTFCCCA in the same regional rankings ahead of MAC member Toledo followed by five-straight Big Ten squads in Michigan State, Michigan, and Wisconsin in third through fifth, respectively.
Last season, Albrecht led the team in the Men's 10,000-kilometer run in 104th with a time of 32:14.8 as the Golden Grizzlies finished 22nd while Maryam Sheena returns to Terre Haute as the top returner from the 6,000-kilometer race a year ago after finishing 66th in 21:17.1 in 2021.
ALBRECHT - THE CHAMPION
At the 2022 #HLXC Championships in Rochester, Albrecht won the individual crown through the 8,000-kilometer course with a kick down the final stretch in 24:44.
RUNNERS OF THE WEEK SWEEP
After only one meet on the course this season, Albrecht and Nolan earned Nike #HLXC Runners of the Week in the Horizon League's first edition this September.
NO. 1 ON THE COURSE
The Golden Grizzlies women's squad is predicted to win the Horizon League championship this October with the men's team slated for third overall.
RETURNING FORCE
Six of the top seven finishers for the men and five of the top seven for the women return to the team for the 2022 fall season.
