After losing some of their top talent, Oakland University’s cross-country teams are relying on depth to compete for Horizon League titles.
The teams are a month out from the Horizon League championships with two meets under their belts — they’re heading to Notre Dame for their third on Friday, Oct. 3.
The Grizzlies kicked off the season with a 5K on their home course for the Golden Grizzlies Open. It was OU’s first time hosting the meet since 2021.
Both squads brought back the tradition in style — the men’s and women’s teams each took home individual and team titles.
Freshman Eliza Bush was first to cross the finish line for the women’s race in 18:41, and senior Wesley Hollowell took first in the men’s race in 14:42.
Haileigh Bissett (19:03, third), Anne May (19:04, fifth), Sophy Skeels (19:09, sixth) and Ellie Voetberg (19:09, sixth) joined Bush in the scoring group for the Golden Grizzlies on the women’s end.
Tristan Brandenburg (14:53, third), Anthony Hancock (15:07, fourth), Collin Farmer (15:27, seventh) and Josiah Magley (15:30, eighth) rounded out the top five for the men’s squad.
While the meet didn’t pose too stiff of competition, it offered a unique opportunity for team building.
“Everybody’s friends and family got to come out for it. Then we had a potluck afterward, so there was some really cool fellowship there,” Magley, a senior, said.
Competition ramped up at the second meet of the season, Western Michigan’s George Dales Invitational.
The women placed fifth out of nine on the 6K course, led by Bush (21:12, second), Ava Alicandro (22:27), May (22:46), Bissett (23:08) and Skeels (23:12) — this is a strong performance considering Oakland has been without a few of their top women, who intend to debut at Notre Dame on Friday.
The men, racing an 8K, won first place behind strong outings from Hollowell (24:41, second), Brandenburg (24:51, fifth), Hancock (24:54, sixth), Carter McCallister (25:11) and Ethan Sandula (25:39).
The win was a statement for Oakland, as they paced the field of ten men’s teams, including an ascending Central Michigan team and Eastern Michigan — which was ranked ahead of Oakland in the regional rankings, yet finished sixth.
The competition will only continue to intensify as the squads head to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane invite on Friday, where they will enter a loaded field including some of the nation’s top teams.
The meet should continue to refine the teams for performance in the Horizon League Championship, hosted by Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 1.
Both Oakland teams were seeded third in the league before the season, but Magley thinks they’re far from underdogs to take home a trophy.
“All cards are kind of on the table right now in terms of the league title, which is going to be really cool,” Magley said. “Definitely don’t underestimate us this year — because we’re coming.”
