Detroit's Coppola, Oakland's Cox Win Horizon League Cross Country's Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS -- Oakland senior Michael Cox (Pinckney, Mich.) and Detroit senior Louisa Coppola (Warren, Mich.) have been named Horizon League Runners of the Week for the week of Aug. 26-Sept. 1.

Cox opened up the season in fine fashion Friday winning the Golden Grizzly Classic held on the grounds of Oakland University. Cox won the race in a 5K time of 15:50.2 to best a field of 55 runners. Cox’s time of 15:50.2 beat his career-best time by over seven seconds (15:57). Cox’s victory led the Grizzlies to a first place team finish.

Coppola notched her first collegiate win with a 4K time of 15:17.5 at the Golden Grizzly Classic. She was the first Titan since 2002 to win a cross country race, with the last being Kim Hemstreet at the 2002 Horizon League Cross Country Championships. Coopola’s strong outing led the Titans to a second place team finish at the event.
 
Both Oakland and Detroit will compete this Saturday at the 27th Annual Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational at Cass Benton Park in Northville, Mich. Women are scheduled for 11:15 am and the men are slated for a 11:45 am start.

Top Runners for the Week:
Dan Shafer, Wright State (Sr., Painesville, Ohio) - Led the Raiders at the Dayton Flyer 5K with a time of 16:18.5 to place 20th out of 110 runners.
Rachel Janson, Wright State (Sr., Dayton, Ohio) - Her 5K time of 20:36 was good for 26th place out of 105 runners.
Ashlyn Woods, Cleveland State (Fr., Mentor, Ohio) - The freshman paced the Vikings in her first collegiate race. Placed 28th out of 105 runners with a time of 20:46.6 at the Dayton Flyer 5K.
Eric Rupe- Youngstown State (Jr., Cortland, Ohio) - After redshirting in 2012, Rupe led the Penguins at the Duquesne Duals with an 8K time of 26:29.4. The time placed Rupe in 7th out of 62 runners.
Monica Ciarniello-Youngstown State (Sr., Lowellville, Ohio) - Ciarniello was the top Pengiun at the Duquesne Duals with a 5K time of 19:01.4.
Sammy Mondry-Oakland (Fr., Grand Rapids, Mich.) - An impressive debut by the freshman, Mondry narrowly missed first place at the Golden Grizzle Classic by 3.1 seconds.  
Martin Nelkie-Detroit (Sr., West Branch, Mich.) - Nelkie picked up where he left off in 2012, finishing in second place with a time of 15:52.3 at the Golden Grizzle Classic while also leading the Titans to a runner-up finish.

Cross Country Runners of the Week:
Sept. 3:    Michael Cox (Oakland); Louisa Coopola (Detroit)