Aug. 21, 2006

Detroit, Mich. - Expectations are high for the Wayne State men's cross country team in 2006 as it is coming off a successful season in which the Warriors finished in the top five in seven of nine races in 2005, including three straight finishes in first place or tied-for-first (Detroit Invitational, Midwest Collegiate, and Cross Country Only Nationals).

The men will have their work cut out for them in '06, though, as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) boasts some of the best teams in the nation, including defending GLIAC Champion Grand Valley State.

But head coach Rick Cummins is upbeat about his team this year: "Our upperclassmen have another year of mileage in their legs and have some big goals. We have a lot of new people, a lot of freshmen that will gain experience in a short time. As usual, we have high expectations and a lot of work ahead of us, but it should be a fun year."

Leading the upperclassmen is senior Chris Mehay (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay), who landed on the All-GLIAC Second Team after finishing ninth in the GLIAC Championships. He also was named to the All-Region team after finishing 11th in the NCAA Regional and garnered All-America honors with a 37th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. 2005 saw him place in the top-10 five times, including two runner-up finishes.

Also leading the men this year will be junior Kevin Christensen (Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield). Christensen earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors after he finished in eighth place in the GLIAC Championships. He also had two top-10 finishes at the Cross Country Only Nationals (3rd).

Even with a difficult 2006 schedule ahead, it should still be a solid year for the men's team. They begin September 1 at the Upper Peninsula Open in Houghton, Mich.