?MAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Natalie Newcombe, Central Michigan, Sr., Mecosta, Mich. / Chippewa Hills
Event: 39th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial
Finish: 1st // Time: 17:03.5 / 5k
Natalie Newcombe ran the second fastest 5k in Central Michigan Women's Cross Country history on Friday in winning the women's race at CMU's Jeff Drenth Memorial. The senior from Mecosta, Mich. finished the race in 17:03.5, winning by 33 seconds and shattering her previous personal best by over a minute.
Other Nominees
Mary Munga, Akron, So., Nyandarau, Kenya
Event: Tommy Evans Invitational
Finish: 12th // Time: 18:20.8
Akron sophomore Mary Munga led the Zips' efforts at the Tommy Evans Invitational in the women's 5K race with a team-best time of 18:20.8.
Carly Spletzer, Ball State, Senior, Liberty Township, Ohio/Lakota East
Event: Winrow-Valparaiso Open
Finish: 21st // Time: 18:44.5/5k
Spletzer led the Cardinals, finishing 21st overall and crossed the finish line with a time of 18:44.5.
Kailee Perry, Bowling Green, Gr., West Liberty, Ky. / Morgan County
Event: Tommy Evans Invitational
Place: 2nd // 17:53.7 (5K)
Led a strong season-opening performance from Bowling Green as they placed third as a team, beating out MAC schools Akron, Ohio and Kent State and 2023 Horizon League champion Oakland. Beat out Oakland's Grace Nolan who was All-Horizon League first team last year who placed third. Became just the sixth runner at the Tommy Evans Invitational since 2007 (when I could last find the results) to place first and/or second in the race multiple times (Perry won the Tommy Evans Invitational in 2023). Cannot practice with the team at all during the week because of her clinical work in physical therapy and runs by herself early every morning, which makes her performance even more impressive.
Lacey Danilovitz, Buffalo, Sophomore, Moosic, PA/ Riverside Jr/Sr High School
Event: Harry Lang Invitational
Place: 10th place // Time: 19:01.2/10th place
Lacey ran a personal best on the Harry Lang 5k XC Course, improving her time from her freshman year and moving from 19th place to 10th place overall.
Marta Moreno, Eastern Michigan, Senior Wassenaar, Netherlands/Hague
Event: Jeff Drenth Memorial
Place: 2nd // Time: 17:36.8/5K
Eastern Michigan senior Marta Moreno kicked off the season with a strong performance at the Jeff Drenth Memorial, placing second in 17:36.8.
Melody Jebiwot, Toledo, Fr., Eldoret, Kenya/Kamura Secondary School
Event: Tommy Evans Invitational
Place: 1st // Time: 17:48.5
Freshman Melody Jebiwot made her collegian cross country debut a memorable one, taking first place with a time of 17:48.5 in the 5K race at the Tommy Evans Invitational in Akron on Friday.
Lily Overton, Western Michigan, Sophomore, Tasmania, Australia / Leighland Christian
Event: Winrow Valparaiso Open
Finish: 6th // Time: 18:09.80/5K
In her first meet as a Bronco, sophomore Lily Overton was able to lead the Broncos to a fourth-place finish at the Winrow Valparaiso Open. As an individual, Overton placed sixth with a time of 18:09.80. The finish was a massive PR for the Iona transfer, as her previous best 5K time was 18:55.1.
