Weekly Release #1
8/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Upcoming Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 4 -- at EMU Open (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 11 -- at Indiana State Invitational (Terre Haute, Ind.), 10:00 a.m. EST/CDT
This Week: EMU Open ...
The two-time defending Big Ten Conference champion University of Michigan women's cross country team opens the 2004 season this Saturday (Sept. 4) at 9:30 a.m. in the EMU Open in Ann Arbor. The Maize and Blue placed four harriers in the top 15 at last season's EMU Open, including a second-place finish by Arianne Field and a fourth-place finish from Anna Jones.
Returning Champions ...
The Wolverines return 16 letterwinners from last year's roster, including Big Ten individual champion and NCAA All-American Rebecca Walter, All-Big Ten first teamer Sarah Pizzo and All-Big Ten second teamer Katie Erdman.
She Keeps Going, and Going ...
2003 Big Ten individual champion and NCAA All-American Rebecca Walter led the Maize and Blue to the finish line in four meets last season, including all three postseason races. Walter placed first at the Big Ten Championhsips, third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and 18th at the NCAA Championships. The 2002 Big Ten Freshman of Year, Walter led the Wolverines to the finish line in each of U-M's final three races in 2002, including a 51st-place showing at the NCAA Championships. At the 2002 Big Ten Championships, Walter helped the Wolverines to the conference crown as she crossed the line in fifth place, earning All-Big Ten first team honors.
2004 Team Captains Named ...
Head coach Mike McGuire has named junior Rebecca Walter and junior/sophomore Katie Erdman team captains for the 2004 season. Erdman earned All-Big Ten second team honors with a 14th-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, while placing 24th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and 120th at the NCAA Championships.
The Mike McGuire File ...
Mike McGuire is in his 13th season as a head coach for the Michigan women's cross country team. McGuire led the Wolverines to their fifth Big Ten Conference team title in 2003 while earning his fifth Big Ten Coach of the Year award. In his first four seasons, McGuire won three consecutive Big Ten and NCAA District IV team championships, and the Wolverines finished as high as second (1994) at the NCAA Championships. McGuire's Michigan teams have 11 top-two finishes in 12 seasons at the Big Ten Championships and nine top-two finishes at the regional championships, winning the regional meet in 1993, '94 and '95. His teams have finished among the nation's top 10 six times at the NCAA Championships. McGuire has helped 49 cross country and track athletes earn All-American honors and has coached five Big Ten individual champions and five Big Ten freshmen of the year.
Michigan Cross Country Olympian ...
Former Wolverine cross country standout Courtney Babcock (1992, '94, '96) represented Canada in the 5,000- and 1,500-meter runs at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Babcock was a seven-time All-American in track and cross country at Michigan and was a member of U-M's 1994 NCAA champion distance medley relay team. She still holds the U-M school record for the indoor mile (4:39.31) set in 1994.
Who's Next ...
The Wolverines travel to Terre Haute, Ind. for the Indiana State Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11. Michigan will compete in at least two meets in Terre Haute this season, hoping for a third chance at the NCAA Championships held in Terre Haute in November.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
