YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – After narrowly falling short of their fifth consecutive Mid-American Conference Championship in 2009, the Eastern Michigan University Men's Cross Country team will look toward reclaiming the title in 2010.

Heading into his tenth season as Head Coach, John Goodridge is confident in the resilience of this squad, who placed second last season behind Kent State University.

“Last year, our four-year streak of winning the MAC Championship ended,” said Goodridge. “The guys took that loss very seriously. They are not lacking for motivation to bring the championship back to Ypsilanti.”

Not only do the Eagles expect to succeed, but the MAC preseason polls also reveal the same. The Green and White are predicted to take the 2010 MAC Championship, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. EMU also made the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) preseason poll, ranking eighth in the Great Lakes Region.

These preseason polls recognize the talented returning squad. Even though the Eagles suffered a huge loss after graduating Curtis Vollmar, a two-time First Team All-MAC honoree. EMU will return 18 from last year's roster, many of which greatly contributed during the 2009 campaign.

Senior captain Matt Hammersmith (Wolcottville, Mich. -Prairie Heights) looks to lead the Eagles into the 2010 season. In 2009, Hammersmith helped the Eagles by placing second at the MAC Championship (28:18.6). His time was good for a 10th place finish and second team All-MAC honors. Besides earning an Academic All-MAC nod, he also picked up EMU's Most Improved Runner award along with teammate James Hughes (Manchester, Mich.-Manchester). Hughes, a sophomore, also garnered second team All-MAC accolades after placing ninth at the MAC Championships with a time of 26:12.6.

Terefe Ejigu (Mount Cook, Wellington-Wellington College New Zealand) is coming off of a stellar freshman season, being awarded All-MAC second team honors, as well as All-Region accolades after finishing 25th (31:49.98) at the Great Lakes Regional in 2009. Ejigu will be joined by teammates, juniors Austin Hendrix (Sylvania, Ohio- Northview) and Cole Sanseverino (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe), who both placed 33rd and 54th, respectively, at the 2009 MAC Championship.

Senior Ransom Brown (Coldwater, Mich.-Coldwater) will bring experience to this year's team, as will juniors Sergei Anderson (Belleville, Mich.-Belleville), Justin Huey (Canton, Mich.-Plymouth), Nicholas Immell (Dublin, Ohio-Dublin Coffman), Andrew Pfeiffer (Clarence, N.Y.-Clarence), and Wes Stoody (Fenton, Mich.-Flint Powers Catholic).

Also returning in 2010 are sophomores Sal Caroniti (Broadview Heights, Ohio-Brecksville-Broadview Heights), Gabe Ellis (Lebanon, Ohio-Lebenon), Moe Frisch (Toledo, Ohio-Whitmer), Josh George (Toronto, Ontario-Frontenac), Tim Harris (Detroit, Mich.-Cass Tech), Jamal Johnson (Detroit, Mich.-Martin Luther King Jr.), and Nate Lonsway (Dublin, Ohio-Dublin).

Cody Chabola (Kingsville, Ohio-Edgewood), Dan Culbertson (Ann Arbor, Mich.-Pioneer), Nick Petro (Erie, Mich. Monroe), and Matt Wines (Pinckney, Mich.) were all redshirted last season as freshmen and will be looking to challenge for a Varsity position.

The Eagles will bring in plenty of talent for their incoming freshman class, according to Goodridge.

"These individuals have the potential to challenge for Varsity positions immediately,” Goodridge stated. “Harry Dixon (Nelson, New Zealand-Nayland College) has won three New Zealand National titles, including a New Zealand Secondary Schools National Cross Country Championship. Daryl Smith (Windsor, Ontario-Vincent St. Mary's S.S.) has represented Canada the past two years in a row in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Junior Cross Country Championships, while transfer Grzegorz Kalinowski (Gostkowo, Poland-Nicolaus Copernicus) placed sixth in the Polish National Short Course Cross Country Championships. Ian Hancke (Haslett, Mich.-Haslett) placed 12th in the Michigan D2 State Cross Country Championships.”

They will be joined by fellow incoming freshmen Kenneth Cooper (Clinton, Mich.-Clinton), Daniel Egner (Novi, Mich.-Novi), Lyle Kafer (Hillsdale, Mich.-Hillsdale), and Warren Witchell (Williamster, Mich.-Dansville). Freshman Drew Sanseverino (Monroe, Mich.-Monroe) will be also be joining the squad along side his brother, Cole.

The Eagles 2010 schedule is very similar to last season's, including many meets close to home.

"Our schedule provides quite a few opportunities for our fans to support the team,” Goodridge said. “Five of our meets are in state. "

EMU will open up the year with the Detroit Titan Invitational on Sept. 11. The team will then head to the Western Ontario Invite on Sept. 25 in London, Ontario. The Green and White will then head to South Bend, Ind. for the fifth straight year participating in the Notre Dame Invite, Oct. 1, followed by the EMU Classic on Oct. 23. The Eagles will then head back to Three Rivers, Mich. to fight for the MAC title on Oct. 30 for the 2010 MAC Championship.


2010 Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll
1. Eastern Michigan
2. Kent State
3. Miami
4. Central Michigan
5. Akron
6. Toledo
7. Buffalo
8. Ohio
9. Bowling Green

Predicted Men's Cross Country Champion: Eastern Michigan

USTFCCCA Preseason Poll – Great Lakes Region NCAA Div. I (Aug. 31, 2010)
1. Wisconsin - Big Ten
2. Michigan State - Big Ten
3. Butler -  Horizon
4. Indiana -  Big Ten
5. Ohio State - Big Ten
6. Indiana State - Mo. Valley
7. Michigan -  Big Ten
8. Eastern Michigan - Mid-Amer.
9. Notre Dame -  BIG EAST
10. Kent State - Mid-Amer.
11. Dayton -  A-10
12. Marquette - BIG EAST
13. Purdue - Big Ten
14. Miami (Ohio) - Mid-Amer.
15. Toledo -  Mid-Amer.