DETROIT (9/16/2025) -- Off some fast times and key performances, the University of Detroit Mercy men's and women's cross country teams will make the trip to one of the most famous collegiate campuses as the Titans compete in the National Catholic Invitational on Friday.
The women's 5k will go off at 11:00 a.m., followed by the men's 8k at 11:40 a.m.
The Titans will battle the host and nationally ranked Fighting Irish, Bellarmine, Calumet-St. Joseph, Canisius, DePaul, Duquesne, Lewis, Loras, Madonna, Mount Mercy, Mount St. Joseph, Niagara, Notre Dame, Spalding, St. Francis (Ill.), St. Norbert and Thomas More.
In the season opener for the men, senior
Joshua Otten earned the win, and sophomore
Colin Murray was runner-up in the 4-mile Tommy Titan Vs. W The Warrior Cross Country Classic. The 1-2 finish, along with senior
Christopher Russelburg placing third and junior
Ryan Belanger fifth, helped the Titans win the event.
Last season, Otten recorded the Titans' fastest time ever at Notre Dame with a career-best 24:25, good for ninth place, while Murray was 13th in a UDM freshman record 24:44.
On the women's side, UDM was second at the home meet, led by senior
Alaina Burns' fourth-place effort in a career-low 18:56. Two other Titans were in the top 10 as junior
Kirsten Koss registered a career run of 19:02 for sixth, while junior
Sofia Figueroa posted a personal-record 19:14 for eighth.
Last year, departed senior
Nina Pizzo was 22nd overall, while junior
Helana Napiorkowski is the top returner, earning 51st in 19:48.
The first race took place in 1980 and was for the men only, while the first women's race came in 1984. Detroit Mercy has run a team in every race of the event's existence, starting in the 1980 race, when the men placed sixth, led by Gary Servais' 13th-place time of 25:25.
The men have three top-five finishes, taking fifth in 1997, 2013, and last season. Detroit Mercy has had one individual winner at the race, with Ben Kendell crossing the line first in 2018 with a time of 24:33.
The Titans placed 10th in the inaugural women's race in 1984, with Lisa Salyers the highest harrier, taking 39th in 20:12. The first six years of the women's race were 3.2 miles before moving to the standard 5k format.
Detroit Mercy has had one female winner in Kim Hemstreet, who earned gold in 2002 with a time of 18:00. Meanwhile, Louisa Coppola set a school record at the race with a time of 17:58, finishing 14th, in 2013.
As a team, the highest a Titan has ever recorded on the women's side was a share of second with Marquette in 1993. Other top-five performances included third in 1997, fourth in 1994 and 1999, and fifth in 1987, 1995 and 1998.
In addition to the teams competing, Director of Track and Field & Cross Country
Guy Murray '89 has attended 45 races. He was the Titans' top runner in 1988, finishing 68th in 27:00.
