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Wayne State University Athletics

2026 MXC Newcomers

Men's Cross Country Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Cross Country Inks Three Transfers

Ames, Janes and Miller will join the WSU program this fall.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's cross country program under the direction of head coach Grant Lofdahl, who will begin his 10th season at WSU this fall, has signed three transfers to add depth and competition.  Continuing their collegiate running experience at WSU this fall will be Lucas Ames (Oxford, Mich. [Mott CC]), Aiden Janes (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams [Lansing CC]), and Alex Miller (Las Vegas, Nev. / Centennial [West Texas A&M]).

Lucas Ames, 6-0, 150, Jr. Oxford, Mich. / Oxford (Mott Community College)
2025-26:  CROSS COUNTRY:  Competed in four regular-season meets for Mott Community College, plus the MCCAA Conference Championships as well as the NJCAA Division II Championships ... finished 15th at the conference meet/NJCAA Region 12 Championships ... posted a season-best time of 26:29.9 at the Robert Morris Invitational.  INDOOR:  Participated in two indoor meets as unattached - Bob Parks Memorial (3K) and Jet's Pizza Invitational (5K) since MCC does not sponsor track.  OUTDOOR:  Competed in one meet unattached ... clocked in at 16:30.60 for 5K at the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet.

2024-25:  CROSS COUNTRY:  Participated in four regular-season meets for the Bears, plus the MCCAA Conference Championships as well as the NJCAA Division II Championships ... finished 30th at the MCCAA Conference/NJCAA Regional 12 meet with a time of 27:58.7 ... posted a season-best time of 26:45.9 at the Jayhawk Collegiate Invitational.  INDOOR:  Did not compete in any meets.  OUTDOOR:  Competed in one meet (Oakland Golden Grizzly Invite) as unattached in the 5K (16:18.52).

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Oxford High School ... was a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track for coaches Norm Petersimes and Sarah Canham ... qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 state finals in cross country as a senior ... posted a 2023 season-best time for 5K of 16:23.7 at the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Red Jamboree #3 ... recorded a season-best time of 17:20.0 at the 2022 MHSAA Regional meet at Waterford Mott ... ran on the JV squad each of his first two years at OHS ... competed at the MHSAA Division 1 Regional Track meet as a sophomore in both the 3,200m race and the 4x800m relay ... ran a season-best time of 9:56.92 for 3,200m at the 2023 MHSAA Regional meet at Milford ... qualified for the state track meet as a senior on the 4x800m relay ... served as a team captain in both sports as a senior ... earned All-Oakland County and All-OAA recognition ... ran for the Breen Track Club during indoor season.

Personal:  Full name -- Lucas M. Ames ... born on February 15, 2006 ... son of Matthew and Angelique Ames ... father was a member of the 1997 Mid-American Conference Indoor DMR quartet for Eastern Michigan ... has a younger sister, Allison ... plans to major in Secondary Education Mathematics.

Coach Lofdahl on Lucas Ames:  "Lucas comes from a solid program at Clarkston and from a running family.  He made some solid improvements at Mott CC and wants to work really hard and find out how good he can be.  He has the right mindset for a Warrior runner."

Aiden Janes, 5-10, 138, Jr., Rochester Hills, Mich. / Rochester Adams (Lansing Community College)
2025-26:  CROSS COUNTRY:  Competed in five regular-season meets for Lansing Community College, plus the MCCAA Conference Championships as well as the NJCAA Division II Championships ... finished 11th at the conference meet/NJCAA Region 12 Championships ... posted a season-best time of 26:00.1 at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic.  INDOOR:  Participated in two indoor meets - Jet's Pizza Invitational (9:21.33 for 3K) and SVSU Tune-Up (15:40.42 for 5K).  OUTDOOR:  Competed in six meets, plus the NJCAA Division 1 Championships (in 5K) ... ran a season-best time of 4:10.89 for 1,500m at the Don Kleinow Memorial Invitational ... recorded a season-best time of 15:19.07 for 5K at the Oakland Elaine Leigh Invitational.

2024-25:  CROSS COUNTRY:  Participated in five regular-season meets for the Stars, plus the MCCAA Conference Championships as well as the NJCAA Division II Championships ... placed 15th at the national championship meet in a season-best time of 25:56.5 ... finished fifth at the MCCAA Conference/NJCAA Regional 12 meet with a time of 26:17.7.  INDOOR:  Did not compete in any meets.  OUTDOOR:  Competed in five meets for LCC ... ran season-best times of 2:05.35 for 800m and 4:20.98 for 1,500m at the Don Kleinow Memorial Invitational ... posted a season-best time of 15:40.37 at the Oakland Elaine Leigh Invitational.

High School:  A 2024 graduate of Rochester Adams High School ... was a two-year letterwinner for coaches Eric Lohr and Donald Richmond ... selected team MVP as a senior ... was a state qualifier in 2023 for cross country after posting a season-best time of 16:24.4 at the MHSAA Regional meet at Clarkston ... ran on the JV squad as a sophomore ... competed in the 3,200m race at the 2024 MHSAA Division 1 Regional meet at Rochester after posting a season-best time of 9:46.31 for 3,200m at the Oakland Activities Association (OAA) Red-White Championships ... ran a season-best time of 9:45.17 for 3,200m as a junior at the 2023 Oakland County Championship ... competed for the Breen Track Club.

Personal:  Full name -- Aiden M. Janes ... born on March 31, 2006, in Royal Oak, Mich. ... son of Jamie and Kelley Janes ... has an older brother, Logan, and a twin, Colton ... plans to major in Communications.

Coach Lofdahl on Aiden Janes:  "Aiden is very dedicated runner who thrives on hard work.  He was part of the junior college national championship team at Lansing CC, so he is already familiar with working together with a talented group of guys.  He had an unfortunate injury at the end of his last training cycle there, but he will bounce back and make our team better."

Alex Miller, 5-7, 145, R-Sr., Las Vegas, Nev. / Centennial (West Texas A&M)
2019:  CROSS COUNTRY:  Placed 25th at the WTAMU Buffalo Stampede in a time of 20:43.2 for 6K ... ran unattached at the Texas Tech Open and posted a time of 27:43.70 for 8K ... finished 12th at the NCAA South Central Regional Preview meet on Oct. 12 by clocking in at 26:54.68 for 8K.

High School:  A 2019 graduate of Centennial High School ... was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs and coach Chris Martinez ... helped CHS to a 2018 state cross country title ... earned All-State honors twice each in cross country and track ... finished eighth at the 2018 NIAA 4A State Championship meet with a time of 17:11.7 ... took seventh the week prior at the NIAA 4A Mountain Regional Championship ... placed 16th at the 2018 NIAA 4A State Championship meet in a time of 17:37.0, after finishing sixth the week prior at the Southern 4A Sunset Regional Championship ... placed third as a sophomore at the 2016 Southern Nevada Division Finals, before finishing 27th at the 4A State Championship meet ... competed at the 2016 NXR Southwest Regional Championship ... finished 45th at the 2015 NIAA Nevada State Championship meet ... served as a cross country team captain in 2018 ... competed in both the 1,600m and 3,200m races at both the 2016 and 2017 Southern Nevada D1 Sunset Regional Championships ... qualified for the 2018 NIAA 4A State Championship meet in the 3,200m after placing second at the Sunset Regional finals ... finished sixth at the 2019 NIAA 4A State Championships in the 3,200m ... ran a personal-best time of 9:34.81 for 3,200m at the 2019 Tiger Invite at South Pasadena ... received Scholar-Athlete honors two times.

Personal:  Full name -- Alexander B. Miller ... born on August 7, 2001, in Las Vegas ... son of William and Nanette Miller ... plans to major in Health & Physical Education Teaching.

Coach Lofdahl on Alex Miller:  "Alex has had a long, strange trip to end up at Wayne State, and he's ready to make the most of his last year of eligibility.  He has some talent and some experience, and the perspective of someone willing to do what it takes to make the most of this opportunity."

The Warriors placed fourth at the 2025 GLIAC Cross Country Championships marking the sixth time in the last seven years the championships have been held that WSU has finished in the top four at the conference meet.

 
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