Northwest Wayne News

DETROIT -- Following a strong start to the season, Wayne State University's men's and women's cross country teams will compete this Friday in the Sixth Annual Warrior Challenge. The event will be held at Willow Metropark in New Boston, Michigan.

The women's six-kilometer race is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., followed by the men's eight-kilometer race at 5:45 p.m. The course is situated along the Hudson River at the Chestnut Picnic Shelter.

Wayne State University (WSU) aims to defend its home course, with both teams seeking to repeat their victories from 2023. Notably, the women's team has won every Warrior Challenge since its inception in 2018.

Senior Reagan Justice has consistently performed well in this event, finishing first in 2021, eighth in 2022, and fourth in 2023. On the men's side, Tyler Buchanan seeks to build on his third-place finish last year when he completed the race with a time of 25:22.40.

In addition to WSU's Green and Gold teams, competitors from Davenport University and Lake Superior State University of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) will participate.

"This will be the largest Warrior Challenge we've hosted in terms of the number of teams competing, and it should be the most competitive as well," said Coach Lofdahl. "We have a great venue for both runners and spectators at Willow Metropark, and we hope to have a great crowd there to cheer on our Warriors! The women have never lost at our home invitational, and based on how they're looking so far, should stand a good chance of keeping the win streak going. The men's race should be very competitive with Northwood, Davenport, Hillsdale, and some good NAIA teams competing. Our men have their work cut out for them in defending the home course, but they'll be ready to compete hard and get it done."