MOUNT PLEASANT -- For the first time in over a decade, the Central Michigan University Chippewas are hosting the Mid-American Conference Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Oct. 27. Riverwood Resort in Mount Pleasant is the site of the women’s 5K and the men’s 8K. Action begins with the women’s race at 11 a.m., while the men begin at noon. CMU last hosted the league championships in 1993.

“We’re really excited to host this meet,” coach Karen Lutzke said. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the sport of cross country to our fans. The student-athletes have worked really hard to get to this point of the season and the fans will have the opportunity to see a highly competitive meet.”

The race seems to be wide open with three main team contenders.

“Last year, Ohio ran away with the title but this year I expect a close race,” Lutzke said. “Hopefully, all of our support will help give us an extra boost.

“We are a better team than last year and we have more depth. We are anxious to see how that translates in the standings. I’d say we are fresh and ready to compete. The key to our success will be moving our No. 3 through No. 7 runners closer to our top two.”

CMU placed seventh as a team last season.

The Chippewas have been led this year by the tandem of Kelly McClure and Amanda Rudert. McClure was CMU’s top runner in the first four meets while Rudert clocked the top time in CMU’s last outing, the NCAA Pre-Nationals.

“Those two have been consistent all season and they are running well right now,” Lutzke said.

CMU also has a returning second team All-MAC performer in Jackie Rivard but she has been nagged with injuries this season.

The Chippewas have won the team title twice, 1989 and 2000. CMU has never had an individual in the top two overall. Ohio has won a league-best nine championships and a Western Michigan Bronco has won the event a MAC-best seven times.

After Toledo won back-to-back titles in 2001-02, a different team has won the meet each of the last four years (Ball State, Kent State, Akron, Ohio). Ohio’s Carime Reinhart looks to repeat her individual championship on Saturday as nine All-MAC selections return from last year’s meet.

CMU prepped for the MAC Championships by running against some of the nation’s best back on Oct. 13 at the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet hosted by Indiana State on the NCAA Championships course. CMU placed 33rd of 38 teams in the blue race which included seven top 25-ranked teams, including No. 1-ranked Stanford which won the meet.

Rudert was CMU’s top finisher in 152nd place (22:17) and McClure was 162nd (22:24).

In the Rankings: The Chippewas are ranked No. 13 in the Great Lakes Region according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Michigan State is the region’s No. 1-ranked team and the Spartans check in at No. 7 nationally. CMU is ranked fifth regionally among MAC schools behind No. 6 Akron, No. 7 Ohio, No. 8 Miami, No. 9 Toledo and No. 10 Ball State.