Women's Cross Country 08.02.24

Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Finalizes 2024-25 Roster

Women's Cross Country 08.02.24

Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Finalizes 2024-25 Roster

Kirsten Koss (L), Meghan Koss (C) and Olivia Velazquez (R) of Divine Child are now Titans

DETROIT (8/2/2024) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's track and field and cross country programs will gear up for the upcoming season with a bevy of new talent.

Joining the Titans will be 14 incoming freshmen, with five of those also running cross country.

"This class equals our largest women's incoming group," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Guy Murray '89. "The team overall is back to pre-pandemic levels and this group will get opportunities to contribute immediately, boost the team and the progress we have been making."

Zainab Ali * Hurdles * Sterling Heights, Mich. * Stevenson

A four-year letterwinner in track and field
Tabbed the Team MVP as a junior
A 2024 Michigan D1 100-meter hurdles & and 4x200-meter relay medalist at the regionals and Macomb County
Ran club with Str8 Smokin Track Club

Jariatu Bangurah * Jumps * Rochester, Mich. * Avondale

A 2024 Michigan D1 long jump competitor at the regionals and Oakland County
Won four long jump competitions during her senior season, including the Highland Games Invitational
Ran club with Motor City Track Club

Sofia Figueroa * Mid-Distance/XC * Wayne, Mich. * Wayne Memorial

Lettered in cross country and track and field
A three time MVP in cross country and track and field
Earned the team's Zebra Award as a sophomore
Owns school records in the 5k, 800 and 1,600-meters as well as part of three relay records in the 4x200, 4x800 and 4x1600
A 2024 Michigan D1 regional 400-meter bronze medal and fifth in the 4x800
A 2023 Michigan D1 regional 800m medalist
Ran club with Next Level Track Club

Aubrey Keeler * Distance/XC * Clio, Mich. * Clio

A four-year letterwinner in cross country and track and field
A two-time state qualifier in cross country
Also a two-time state qualifier on the 4x400-meter relay

Kirsten Koss * Mid-Distance/XC * Dearborn, Mich. * Divine Child

Registered varsity letters in basketball, cross country and track and field
Named All-State, All-Region and All-Catholic three times in track
Was back-to-back team MVP as a sophomore and junior
In cross country, she was All-Region and All-Catholic as a sophomore, junior and senior
A three-time state qualifier
Helped Divine Child to a D2 state title as a senior
Was All-State D2 on the 4x400-meter relay as a junior and senior and state champion as a freshman and sophomore
A four-time D2 800m state qualifier and was All-State in the 4x800 as a sophomore
Ran club with Dearborn Track Club and was All-State in the distance medley relay
Teammates with her sister and current Titan signee Meghan as well as another incoming freshman in Olivia Velazquez

Meghan Koss * Sprints * Dearborn, Mich. * Divine Child

Earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country and track and field
A two-time track team MVP and the Sprinter of the Year as a junior
A regional champion in the 100 and 200-meters as a junior
Tabbed All-Catholic all four years and All-State and All-Region three times
A two-time MITCA meet champion in the 200m
Helped Divine Child to a D2 state title as a senior
Was All-State D2 in 2024 in the 100 and 200m as well as 4x100 and took a silver medal in the 4x200
A 2023 All-State selection in the 4x200 and was ninth in the 100m
Claimed a bronze and was All-State in the 4x200 as a sophomore and won a silver and was All-State All-State in the 4x200 as a freshman
Ran club with Dearborn Track Club and was All-State in the distance medley relay
Teammates with her sister and current Titan signee Kirsten as well as another incoming freshman in Olivia Velazquez

Haley Lipscomb * Sprints * Southfield, Mich. * Mercy

A four-year letterwinner in track and field
Helped her teams to a regional and Catholic League titles as a junior
A Scholar-Athlete all four years
A 2024 Michigan D1 state qualifier in the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay
Was a regional medalist in the 100-meter hurdles as a senior
A 2023 Michigan D1 state qualifier in the 4x200 and a regional medalist in the 100 and 300mH
Ran club with Track Life University

Ana Lopez * Distance/XC * Rochester Hills, Mich. * Rochester Adams

Earned letters in cross country and track and field
Named All-Region, All-League and All-County as a sophomore, junior and senior
Was All-State in indoor track as a senior
A state qualifier in track as a junior and senior and cross country as a senior
In cross country, she was All-League twice
Ran club with Elite Performance and was All-State in 2024 and qualified for the New Balance Nationals

Aubrey Mery * Distance/XC * Oxford, Mich. * Oxford

A four-year letterwinner in cross country and track and field
A Scholar-Athlete all four years
Helped her team to a sixth-place finish at the state championship as a junior and ninth as a senior
Guided the Wildcats to three straight county and regional titles
A state qualifer as a junior and senior in cross country and track and field
Took fifth in the two-mile as a junior

Lyla Mullins * Throws * Chesterfield, Mich. * Austin Catholic

A multi-varsity letterwinner in basketball, golf, softball, volleyball and track and field
A Michigan D4 state champion in the shot put and discus
Selected the Most Improved three times
Tabbed All-Macomb County as a junior and senior
A three-time state qualifier in the shot put and discus
Part of the Kaizen Throws Club

Abbey Ressler * Pole Vault * St. Clair Shores, Mich. * Lakeview

Lettered in hockey, cross country and track and field
Owns the school record in the pole vault
A Michigan D1 state qualifer as a junior and senior
Was a regional medalist in the 100-meter hurdles in 2023 and 2024

Olivia Velazquez * Sprints * Melvindale, Mich. * Divine Child

Recorded letters in basketball and track and field
Was a regional champion in the 100-meters all four years
A state qualifier in the 100m, 4x100 and 4x200-meter relay
Competed at the New Balance Nationals in the 4x200 as a sophomore
Helped Divine Child to a D2 state title as a senior
All-State in the 4x100 and runner-up in the 4x200 as a senior
A 2023 Michigan D2 state qualifier in the 100m, 4x100 and 4x200
Took bronze on the 4x200 in 2022 and a silver in 2021
Teammates with current Titan signees and sisters Kirsten and Meghan Koss

Audrey Williams * Sprints * Lewis Center, Ohio * Olentangy

Registered letters in soccer and track and field
Helped her team win two conference championships and a district title
A regional qualifier in track as a sophomore and junior
Ran a leg on the school record-breaking 4x100-meter relay
A 2024 Ohio D1 4x400 regional qualifier
Was a district medalist in the 100 and 200m as a senior

Julia Young * Jumps * Belle River, Ont. * Tecumseh Vista Academy

A four-year letterwinner in track and field
Was named the Team MVP as a senior
Back-to-back triple jump champion in the WECCSA in 2022 and 2023 as well as the SWOSSA and OFFSA West champion in 2022
Placed second at the SPIRE Indoor Championships for the triple jump and third at the Saginaw Invitational in the long jump in 2024
Ran club with Border City AC

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