DETROIT -- The Wayne State University cross country programs are set to compete in the GLIAC Championships on Friday, Nov. 6, in Westville, Ind.  The men will open the conference meet at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT) as they race the 8K, with the women's 6K set to begin at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT).  Purdue Northwest will host the league meet at its PNW Cross Country course on its Westville Campus.  Additional meet info can be found here. 

Men's Squad
The WSU men's team is coming off a fifth-place finish at the Warrior Challenge on Oct. 24 at Willow Metropark.  The Warriors totaled 82 points in the 8K race, finishing just four points behind fourth-place Saginaw Valley State (78).  Davenport claimed the team victory with 43 points.  Andrew Yax (Clio, Mich.) paced the Warriors with a seventh-place individual finish in 25:44.7.  

Women's Squad
The Warrior women are coming off a third-place finish at the Warrior Challenge on Oct. 24 at Willow Metropark.  WSU totaled 78 points in the 6K race, finishing three points behind runner-up Saginaw Valley State (75).  Northern Michigan captured the team title with 35 points.  Freshman October Harns (Okemos, Mich.) topped the lineup with an eighth-place individual finish in 22:40.7. 

QUOTING HEAD COACH GRANT LOFDAHL
"The guys have rolled with the punches this fall and we are optimistic going into GLIACs.  We are as healthy as we have been since early September and our fitness level is high.  It is just a matter of going out and executing with confidence on Friday.  Sean (Pettis) made second-team all-conference last year and I think his fitness has increased significantly since then.  He has some big aspirations for the GLIAC meet and beyond.  Ty (Nagy) has been a great leader for our guys and is ready to end his GLIAC career on a very high note.  Andrew (Yax) and Griffin (Conway) have made big strides in the past few months and those two are in a position for a great championship season.  Seth (Pianga) and Sam (Martini)  have had remarkable comebacks from injuries and it is great to have them in the GLIAC lineup this time.  The Warriors are motivated and coming in with a chip on their shoulders, and I'm excited to see them put together a great team race on conference championship day. 

"This has been a season of growth and learning for our women, but we are a more fit and more savvy team now than we were in September for sure.  Our depth is excellent and we will put 12 very fit, capable runners on the line for Friday.  Ava's (Peters) sophomore season has had a few ups and downs, but she is going into the championship portion ready to build on an exceptional freshman year in which she placed 15th at the GLIAC meet.  October (Harns) has been steady and consistent this fall and is poised for a breakthrough, along with fellow freshmen Emma (Rudling) and Elise (Barden).  Kendall (Sears), Katie (Rohrer) and Rachel (Felstow) have made massive improvements since last year and are ready for something big in their first GLIAC cross country race.  We will have some experience as well, as Emilee (Rudlaff) will lead us in her third conference meet.  We are a dangerous postseason team if we compete with confidence and start putting it all together.  These ladies will do big things in the near future, and it starts at Purdue Northwest on Friday!" 

USTFCCCA Regional and National Rankings 
The WSU women's team sits at seventh in the latest USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings.  GLIAC opponents Grand Valley State (No. 1), Saginaw Valley State (No. 3), Northern Michigan (No. 5) and Michigan Tech (No. 8) also hold spots in the latest regional rankings.  In the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National Coaches' Poll, Grand Valley State is ranked sixth nationally, while Saginaw Valley State sits at No. 28. 

On the men's side, Wayne State is currently outside the top 10 in the most recent USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings.  League foes Grand Valley State (No. 1), Saginaw Valley State (No. 4), Michigan Tech (No. 8) and Davenport (No. 10) are ranked among the region's top 10 teams.  Nationally, GLIAC opponents Grand Valley State (No. 6) and Saginaw Valley State (No. 27) are represented in the Coaches' Poll. 

UP NEXT
The Warriors will look to make a strong impression at the GLIAC Championships as they prepare for the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 21 in Kenosha, Wis.