DETROIT (10/15/2026) -- The Titans will head to upstate New York for a final tune-up before the postseason as the University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's cross country teams take part in the 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.
The field will include the host Golden Griffins, Buffalo, Buffalo State, D'Youville, Jamestown Community College, LeMoyne, Monroe Community College, PSU- Behrend, SUNY-Erie, and the UB Running Club.
This will be UDM's ninth time competing in the race in the last 13 years. Last season, the Titans finished second with 70 points, with
Joshua Otten second and
Colin Murray sixth to lead the way. Otten nearly broke the school's record with a 24:44 run, while Murray set a Titan rookie record at Canisius with 25:09.
The men have finished second twice at Canisius, in 2014 and last year.
Ben Kendell '18 has the best times at 24:27 in 2016 and 24:40 in 2018.
The women were third last season with 93 points as
Nina Pizzo placed third overall with a career-best 17:59, the third-best time by a Titan at the event.
Helana Napiorkowski posted a big PR of 18:47 for 16th, while
Alaina Burns ran a career-low 19:24 for 31st.
In its history at Canisius, Detroit Mercy posted a second-place finish in 2015 and took third in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Allison Sherman '23 was runner-up in 2023 with a time of 17:47, the second-fastest 5k in school history, and
Sydnie Fetherolf '18 was second in 2017 with a time of 17:57, the fifth-fastest run by a Titan.
After the race, the Titans will have a couple of weeks of practice before the Horizon League Championships on Oct. 31 and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship on Nov. 13.
