INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI Athletics Department announced the men's and women's cross country schedules on Thursday (July 5) as the Jaguars' begin year two in the Horizon League.
Both teams will open the year at the Butler Opener at Northview Church in Carmel on Aug. 31. From there, both squad will participate in the Vic Godfrey Open in Kenosha, Wisc., on Sept. 8 to get a preview of the course that will later host the Horizon League Championships.
On Sept. 28, the women's team will trek north to participate in the Notre Dame Invitational while the men's team will head south for the Louisville Sports Commission Cross Country Classic on Sept. 29. Both squads will run the Bradley "Pink" Classic on Oct. 12 and the men will run one additional regular season meet at the Illini Open on Oct. 19.
The 2018 Horizon League Championships will be held on Oct. 27 in Kenosha and followed by the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 9.
Head coach
Antonio McDaniel's team returns three of the Jaguars' top five finishers from last year's Horizon League Championships, paced by first team all-league finisher
Katelyn Murphy. Junior
Shelby Pake and sophomore
Janine Orvis were also among the Jaguars' scoring quintet and will be joined by a group of returners that includes
Jessica Backherms,
Ashley Kidwell,
Paige Boatright and
Alexis Lewandowski.
The men's team brings back first team All-Horizon League performers
David Ehlers and
Jacob Stamm and the league's reigning top freshman in
Ben Savage. Other returners from last year's lineup include
Roman Jennings,
Jeremy Breedlove,
Eric Hoffman,
Jarit Perkins and
Lucas Rhed. The group of newcomers is expected to be keyed by Vincennes-transfer
Evan Franklin.
Teams will begin reporting in August ahead of the Friday night Butler Opener on the city's north side.
