ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine men's cross country team is looking to continue its ascent towards the top of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association this season, with the opening race looming next week.
The Thunder is coming off the team's best finish in the MIAA since 2007 after placing fourth in the conference last year. Trine has improved on its previous season's finish by one place in each of the past two seasons and will be looking for more of the same as the team works towards its ultimate goal of contending for a league title. The team will be looking towards continued improvement from its large number of returners as well as contributions from a talented incoming freshman class.
In the video below, head coach Zach Raber previews the men's and women's cross country seasons.
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Trine Alum Haley Livingston Selected as Cross Country and Track & Field Assistant Coach
ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men’s and women’s cross country and track & field programs have announced the hiring of the position of Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach. Head Cross Country Coach Zach Raber and Head Track & Field Coach Josh Fletcher have hired 2023 Trine University graduate Haley Livingston as their new assistant coach.
Trine University Cross Country Programs Release 2023 Schedules
ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men’s and women’s cross country programs along with head coach Zach Raber have unveiled their season schedule in 2023. There are eight meets on the calendar this fall, including three postseason events. Last year, the Thunder placed third in both the men’s and women’s Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings and had a combined seven (four women, three men) named All-MIAA.
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Leading the returners is Adam Schaaf (Greentown, Ind./Eastern), who earned All-MIAA First Team honors last season. Schaaf was also recognized with Individual All-Academic distinction by the USTFCCCA.
Austin Ganger (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka) also returns after performing as Trine's top runner two seasons ago. Michael Becker (Wauseon, Ohio/Wauseon), Robert Lewis Duke (Greentown, Ind./Eastern), Garrett Benedict (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central), Collin Elek (Osceola, Ind./Penn) and Zachary Phillips (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) are among the returning runners the team expects big things from.
Adding to the mix this season are eight freshman. The bulk of the team remains young, with 18 total underclassmen on the roster.
The season opens Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Manchester University Hokum Karem. The race features pairs of runners running alternating miles as a tandem. Points are awarded based on the combined performance of each pair of runners.
The schedule features four other races prior to the MIAA Championship at Olivet on Oct. 31. The complete schedule can be viewed HERE.