Eastern Wayne Today

The Wayne State University men's and women's cross country teams will begin their 2025 season at the Hillsdale Invitational, which takes place at Hayden Park in Hillsdale, Michigan, on Friday, September 5. The event includes a women's 5K race starting at 6:00 PM and a men's 4-mile race beginning at 6:30 PM.

Wayne State will compete alongside host school Hillsdale College and Spring Arbor University. Hillsdale's men's team recently won the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) title in 2024. On the women's side, Allison Kuzma from Hillsdale finished as the individual runner-up in last year's league meet and returns as a sophomore this season. Spring Arbor University's men's team enters the new season ranked sixth nationally in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), following their Crossroads League Championship win in 2024 and their third appearance at the NAIA National Championship within five years. The Spring Arbor women's team placed eighth in last year's Crossroads League.

In preparation for the upcoming season, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its preseason regional rankings for 2025 on September 2. Wayne State's women's cross country team is ranked seventh in the Midwest region, accompanied by four other Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) schools among the top ten.

The Midwest Regional Poll lists Grand Valley State (GLIAC) first, followed by Lewis (GLVC), Cedarville (G-MAC), Walsh (G-MAC), Parkside (GLIAC), Southwest Baptist (GLVC), Wayne State (GLIAC), Findlay (G-MAC), Saginaw Valley State (GLIAC), and Michigan Tech (GLIAC).

Head coach Grant Lofdahl commented on the team's outlook for the start of the season: "We are very excited to get the new season going, and the low-key yet competitive meet at Hillsdale should be an ideal way to open up. Our teams have had a very solid first few weeks of practice, and clearly put in a lot of hard work over the summer. The vibes at practice are excellent, and we're ready to get the rust out on a tough course that will simulate the regional and NCAA championship course very well."