DETROIT (9/10/2026) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's cross country team will make its first appearance of the season in a very familiar place as the Titans co-host the Tommy Titan vs. W the Warrior Cross Country Classic on Saturday.

The event - which features co-host UDM and Wayne State - returns to Cass-Benton Park in Northville, the famous home of the home meet for over 30 years, and will feature the women's 5k at 10:00 a.m., the men's 4-mile at 10:45 a.m., and the Kids (9 & under) vs. Tommy and W at 11:25 a.m.

Competing will be the Titans, Warriors, Cleary, Lambton College, Macomb CC, UM-Dearborn, Muskegon CC, Spring Arbor, and Titan Legends and alumni. 

In its history, the Titan women have won three events on the course when the Tommy Titan Invitational was held there, claiming the top spot in 2015, 2017, and 2022. Five Titans have also won the race individually in Angie Lefere (1997), Louisa Coppola (2013), Sydnie Fetherolf (2017), Kayla Hughes (2020), and Allison Sherman (2022). 

Nicole Edwards of Michigan holds the 5k course record with a 17:19 in 2009, while the best time by a Titan was Kim Hemstreet's 17:58 in 2002. 

The Titans will be an upperclassmen-led group this year, with five seniors and three juniors on the 13-man roster. 

UDM will have to move on from two key seniors as All-League performer Nina Pizzo and Claire Hunt graduated.

"This group is going to have to develop that top runner," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Guy Murray '89. "You can really see the progression in our upperclass, and we need to take that next step and get as many people in that top 20 and 30 at the Horizon League Championship."

Senior Helana Napiorkowski is the top returning Titan from last year's Horizon League Championship, as she was second on the team and 40th overall with a career-best 22:29 in the 6k. She was part of the scoring five in all six races last season, taking second twice and third on three occasions, tallying a 5k career-low 18:47 for 16th at the Canisius Alumni Classic.

Senior Alaina Burns is another senior who has been in the line-up since she arrived on campus. Last year, she ran in all six meets and was part of the scoring five in five races, registering a career-best of 19:34 in the 5k at Canisius and a 6k mark of 23:01 at the league meet. 

Those two harriers also scored for UDM at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. 

"Helena might be the top returner of the group, but Kirsten had a good spring as did Alaina, so we are really looking good heading into the season," said coach Murray. 

Senior Abby Fifield is another runner who improved over the years, as she also posted record marks in the 5k. 

Two other seniors will be back after not seeing a lot of competition time in Taylor Myers and Avery Saunder as they look to get back on the course.

The junior class has also had plenty of experience in their first two years in Sofia Figueroa, Kirsten Koss, and Ana Lopez.

"We have the potential to have a very nice pack, and we just need that pack to move forward. From one through five, we need to keep that group as tight as possible," added coach Murray. 

Figueroa finished the Horizon League Championship 6k in 23:51. Koss posted a 6k career-low of 23:03 for 74th at the HL race, and Lopez earned career bests in both the 5k and 6k. Figueroa and Lopez also scored on the distance medley relay in the indoor track season.

The sophomore class saw Addie Stanley run in every race as a true freshman and shave her time in every race during the year, while Alaa Selman saw action in five of the six races and also lowered her 5k time during the year. 

Sophia Aquino did not see any time last year, but trained all season long and two newcomers will look to make an impact in freshmen Anna Kujansuu and Ava Tow.