FINDLAY, Ohio—The Hillcrest Golf Club in Findlay, Ohio is set to host the 2022 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship on Saturday morning.
 
The Great Midwest features multiple regionally and nationally ranked programs from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
The women’s 6K event will begin at 10:30 A.M. ET followed by the men’s 8K at 11:30 A.M.
 
Individual awards will also be presented including the Coach of the Year, Runner of the Year,  Freshman of the Year, and the Elite 26 award, which recognizes a male and female student-athlete at the conference championship level with the highest cumulative GPA.
 
Both races will be streamed on the Great Midwest Digital Network courtesy of the host Oilers.
 
Women’s 6K Preview
 
The defending conference champions Cedarville has maintained a spot in the Top 25 of the USTFCCCA the entire season. The Yellow Jackets are ranked sixth in the most recent poll and are second in the Midwest Region behind Grand Valley State.
 
Head Coach Jeff Bolender has built a successful program in Cedarville, who has claimed the Great Midwest title six times since 2012. The depth and overall strength of the Yellow Jackets has been on full display all season. The trio of Bethany Sholl, Naomi Herman, and Hannah Rhem return for Cedarville after receiving First-Team All-Conference honors in last year’s championship. 2021 Second-Team honoree in Alayna Ackley and younger sister Savannah Ackley are also returners for Coach Bolender. With five dominant runners leading the pack, Cedarville has placed in the top 10 in all their meets, including three 1^st place finishes.
 
Walsh is No. 7 in the Midwest Region, but lose previous Runner of the Year in Alexa Leppelmeier, who placed first overall in the 2021 championship. 2021 First-Team All-Conference runner in Teja Young returns for head coach Rob Mizicko as well Bridget Hahn, who was named to Second-Team All-Conference last season.
 
The Oilers are not far behind at No. 8 with Gabrielle Lawrence leading the pack. Lawrence recently finished 9^th place at the Go Fast River Run with a 6K time of 22:12.80.
 
Hillsdale returns Liz Wamsley, who has received Athlete of the Week honors twice this season. Wamsley has helped the Chargers earn a place in the Midwest Regional rankings at No. 10.
 
Men’s 8K Preview

Walsh, Northwood, and Cedarville are all ranked in the latest USTFCCCA Midwest Region Poll. Walsh has earned a spot in the Top 25 at No. 12 and will look to win their fourth consecutive title.
 
Rob Mizicko, who was voted Great Midwest Coach of the Year last season, returns a talented group of runners as well as Notre Dame transfer in Zach Kreft. Kreft has been named Athlete of the Week a handful of times this season and has broken numerous course records. Most recently, Kreft placed first and broke the course record at the Go Fast River Run with an 8K time of 23:47.2. Teammates Nathan Moore, Drew Roberts, and Zach Beneteau also return for Walsh. Moore was named Freshman of the Year and joined Roberts and Beneteau as First-Team All-Conference Selections.
 
Newcomer Northwood also finds themselves in the national poll at No.28. The Timberwolves have appeared in the rankings three times this season. Dillan Haviland led Northwood in their most recent first place finish at the Warrior Invitational. Haviland clocked a time of 25:05.10 and finished 2^nd overall.  

Last year’s Runner of the Year Noah Fisher is back along with Cedarville’s Evan Leist and Isaiah Kelly. Cedarville rounds out the Midwest Regional Rankings at No. 10.
 
Following the conclusion of the Great Midwest Cross Country Championships, student-athletes will begin preparation for the NCAA Midwest Regionals on Nov. 19 in Kenosha, WI.