Cross Country Opens 2023 Season at Madison Opener

Saturday, September 9

Madison, WI

All Day

Marquette University

Madison Opener

9/7/2023 4:13:00 PM | Cross Country

The Madison Opener starts at 10:30 a.m. CT

By: Communications

MILWAUKEE - The Marquette University men's and women's cross country teams open up the 2023 campaign this Saturday, Sept. 9 at the at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course, hosted by Wisconsin.

The meet will begin at 10:30 a.m. CT with the men's 8k, followed by the women's 5k race. There will be nine total teams competing Saturday morning. Joining Marquette and Wisconsin will be Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State and Rutgers.

"Our main focus this week is a preview of regionals, so we'll field our men's and women's full scoring team, but not the entire roster," said head coach Sean Birren. "Being our first meet, we'll be testing the waters on how well we can pack up and what kind of pace that pack can maintain to help us plan race strategy for future."

On the women's side, the Golden Eagles welcome seven freshmen and return eight experienced runners this season, led by team captains Lexi Keppler, Gretchen Pfeiffer, and Mikaela Sullivan.

Junior Audrey Grimm also returns for the Golden Eagles. Grimm was a top-five finisher for MU in five out of seven meets she ran in last season.

The men return nine members from last year's squad and welcome six newcomers. Seniors Thomas Leonard, Dan Weizeorick, and David Zeller are at the helm for the MU men as team captains for the 2023 season.

Weizeorick returns for the men looking to continue build upon his strong collegiate career. He finished first for MU in the BIG EAST Championships last season.

Up Next:
Next week, the squad will be traveling to Peoria, Illinois for the Bradley Intercollegiate on Friday, Sep. 15.

Keep up with the Marquette cross country program through social media by following on X (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and `liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).