CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State cross country team will return to action this weekend, participating in the 2018 Horizon League Championship. This year's championship will be hosted by UIC in Kenosha, Wis., with the women's 6K race slated for an 12:00 p.m. EST start on Saturday, October 27.
HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Wayne Dannehl Cross Country Course
Petrifying Springs Rd. | Kenosha, Wis. | 53144
The Field
Cleveland State is part of a 10-team field for the Horizon League Championship, and will be starting in Box 9 on Saturday. A complete list of teams and box assignments is below:
1. Wright State
2. Milwaukee
3. IUPUI
4. Oakland
5. UIC
6. Detroit Mercy
7. Northern Kentucky
8. Green Bay
9. Cleveland State
10. Youngstown State
Vikings At The #HLXC Championship
Cleveland State's best finish at the Horizon League Championship has been fourth place, which the Vikings posted during the 2011 and 2017 campaigns. Individually, Cleveland State's highest finish has been fifth place, as Karen Barrientos became the first Viking to earn First Team honors during the 2016 season.
Brandt Trying For Second All-League Honor
Sophomore Anna Brandt will be trying to earn All-Horizon League honors for the second time in her career this weekend, needing a top-14 finish on Saturday to achieve the feat. Brandt, who was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Horizon League First Team last season, would become just the second Viking all-time to earn #HLXC honors in two separate years.
…Brandt In The CSU Record Book
Entering this weekend's race, Anna Brandt sits at the top of the CSU Record Book on both the 5K and 6K courses, posting both program record times earlier this season. On the 5K course, Brandt became the second Viking all-time to break 18-minutes, posting a time of 17:55 as the individual winner at the JennaStrong Fall Classic. Brandt's record setting 6K time came at the All-Ohio Championship, when she became the first-ever Viking to finish in the top-10 at the event with a final time of 21:56.
2018 RACE-BY-RACE RESULTS | ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMANCES
Finley Helps Pace Vikings
Throughout the season, junior Jessica Finley has been one of Cleveland State's top-two finishers during every race, including a season-best 14th overall finish at the Duquesne Duals in the season opener. Finley posted a season-best 5K time at the JennaStrong Fall Classic, crossing the finish line in 18:46, while she posted a 23:12 6K time at the All-Ohio Championship.
Head Coach Jason Hudson
Saturday's 6K will mark the first #HLXC Championship appearance for first-year head coach Jason Hudson, who took over the Cleveland State program at the beginning of the 2018 season.
2018 Cleveland State Cross Country Schedule
The #HLXC Championship will be the fifth of six races for the Vikings this season, and just the second 6K. The Vikings have had two weeks off from competition, last participating in the JennaStrong Fall Classic on Friday, October 12.
