DETROIT (10/26/2016) -- It's postseason time for the women's cross country program as the Titans will travel to Wisconsin for the 2016 Horizon League Championship.
"This has been a good season and a good group, and we definitely have the experience," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Guy Murray '89.
The 6k race will begin at Noon (EST) at the Wayne Dannehl Championship Cross Country Course on the campus of UW-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The 6k race will also be the first of that mileage on the year for the women as the league went to the 6k format in 2014.
Last year, the Titans took fifth with 135 points and most of that team is back with one senior and four juniors who have all taken part in previous HL meets.
Detroit Mercy competed in five races during the regular season with the majority of the top five harriers coming from the veteran class.
"In a small meet, we have to be the best that we have been all season for us to really move up in the standings," added coach Murray.
Senior Devon Sutton has led the team in three of the five races, while junior Sydnie Fetherolf has claimed the top spot in the other two races. Sutton has set 4k and 5k career times this year clocking a 14:32 for fifth at the Golden Grizzly Open and an 18:22 for 12th at the National Catholic Championship. Fetherolf posted her 5k career best of 18:36 for fifth at the Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational and nearly broke it again tallying an 18:37 for fourth at the Canisius Alumni Classic.
Junior Jenny Ponkowski started the year with a 4k career low of 15:11 at Oakland and has followed that up with four-straight weeks of 5k PR's, her latest a 19:01 time for 10th at Canisius.
"I believe the course fits us pretty well," said coach Murray. "Fetherolf had her best race there as a freshman earning All-League and Devon and Jenny are more strength runners then speed so the 6k and hills should play out well for them."
Junior Taylor Smith holds one of the current fastest times in a 6k clocking a 22:50 as a freshman in the Horizon League Championship, while junior Sydney Shaw posted a 6k PR at the event last year.
Six Titans will be making their championship debuts in sophomores Annmarie Taylor and Veronica Towianski along with freshmen Kayla Hughes, Alexis Kearney and Victoria Ostrander. Hughes, Towianski and Ostrander have all recorded scoring marks for the red, white and blue on the season.
The women own a pair of conference titles finishing first in 1986 and 1987. Three Titans have also won the individual championship in Kim Hemstreet (2002), Angie Lefere (1997) and Bonnie (Fitzpatrick) Wood (1987).
The Titans have also had a runner in the top 10 in each of the last four years.
There will be no live scoring for the event and results will be posted as soon as they are available. For live race updates, follow the Titan Track and Field/Cross Country twitter account @DetroitTitanTnF.
