DETROIT (10/11/2023) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's cross country teams will have one last race to prepare for the postseason as the Titans make their way to New York for the annual Canisius Alumni Classic on Saturday. 

The race will feature the women's 5k at Noon and the men's 8k at 12:45 at Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York. 

This meet is familiar to most, as the Titans participated in six straight races from 2014-19. 

The men's team has recorded several top finishes at Canisius as a team and individuals. The last time the red, white and blue competed in the event was in 2019 as the men were third. They also claimed third in 2016 and 2017 and fourth in 2018. Ben Kendell '18 and James McCann both had top performances as Kendell led the field in 2016 with a time of 24:27 and came back to win it again in 2018 with a time of 24:07, followed by McCann, who took second with a time of 24:58. 

For the women, UDM posted a second-place effort in 2015 and finished third in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Sydnie Fetherolf '18 was runner-up in 2017 in 17:57, the fifth fastest 5k time in school history, and was fourth in 2016 in 19:06. 

Graduate senior Allison Sherman continues to pace the Titans as she has led the team in all three races this year. Sophomore Ayva Schmalz ran a personal best at Notre Dame, while junior Nina Pizzo has recorded back-to-back PR's in the last two meets. 

Meanwhile, sophomore Joshua Otten has topped the Titans in all three races of the season, while several others have turned in career and season highs in the last few weeks. 

Following the event, UDM will get ready for the Horizon League Championships on Oct. 28 and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional championship on Nov. 10.