Akron Set for MAC Cross Country Championships

Saturday, November 2

Muncie, Ind.

11:00 AM

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference Championships

November 01 | Cross Country

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron cross country team under the direction of first-year head coach Evans Kiptoo will begin postseason competition on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championships, hosted by Ball State at the Ball State Cross Country Course in Muncie, Ind.

The women's 6-kilometer race will begin at 11 a.m. with the men's 8K race to follow at 12 p.m.

The field in the women's championship includes squads from all 12 conference schools.

The Zips have won a pair of league titles on the women's side capturing the crown in 1999 and 2005, while placing second twice (2007 and 2008). Individually, Michelle Rizzo and Beata Rudzinska captured titles in 1999 and 2005, respectively, for the Zips.

The men's field includes nine teams in Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami, Ohio and Toledo.

Akron captured its first-ever league men's cross country title a year ago after placing second in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Marc Migliozzi captured the individual title for the Zips in 2019.

Sophomore Titus Kirui (Eldoret, Kenya) is Akron's top-returning finisher for the men's team garnering Second-Team All-MAC accolades after finishing 12th in 24:41.71.

Additionally, sophomore Majid Abuaun (Rocky River, Ohio) added a career-best time of 25:56.79.

The Zips' list of runners in the men's race this Saturday will include redshirt senior Heriberto Alvarez (Oswego, Ill.), junior Taye Gonzalez (Lewis Center, Ohio), sophomore Quinn Hopkins (Akron, Ohio), freshman Bismack Kipchirchir (Eldama Ravine, Kenya), Kirui, freshmen Moses Lekokei (Kilgoris, Kenya) and Emil Stanford (Sunbury, Ohio) and senior Justin Zapotoczny (Navarre, Ohio).

Sophomore Mary Munga (Nyandarau, Kenya) is the top-returning finisher for the women's team earning First-Team All-MAC accolades on the strength of placing fourth in the women's 6K in 20:45.64.

Turning in career-best times of 21:15.60, 21:41.39 and 21:42.17, respectively, was sophomore Megan Hipple (Warren, Ohio) and seniors Halle Sebest (Poland, Ohio) and Danielle Honaker (Ashland, Ohio).

Additionally, sophomore Kayla Sucharski (Galena, Ohio) and senior Hannah Kerr (Chillicothe, Ohio) registered times of 23:33.43 and 24:03.00.

The Zips' list of runners in the women's race this Saturday will include senior Grace Henderson (Rostraver Township, Pa.), Hipple, Honaker, Kerr, Munga, Sebest, senior Sophia Spencer (Medina, Ohio), Sucharski and freshman Jadyn Towns (Berlin Heights, Ohio).