Northern Michigan Will Compete in Lucian Rosa Invite

The team will travel to Kenosha this Saturday to race on the Wayne E. Dannehl course.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Running

Northern Michigan Will Compete in Lucian Rosa Invite

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The Northern Michigan University women's cross country team will compete in the Lucian Rosa Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. The Wildcats arrive at the event looking to improve upon their current No. 8 ranking in the Midwest Region.

Why it matters

The competition serves as a pivotal opportunity for the squad to climb the regional rankings as they progress through the 2026 season. Strong performances in Kenosha will bolster the program's resume following earlier outings at the Phoenix Open and Roy Griak Invite.

The team finished 4th out of 23 squads at this event last year and recently placed 2nd at the Phoenix Open and 10th at the Roy Griak Invite. Ella DeBruyn enters the meet with a personal best of 21:21.3 recorded in Minneapolis.

The players

Northern Michigan University

This university is the home base for the Wildcats cross country team based in Marquette, Michigan.

Ella DeBruyn

She is a member of the Northern Michigan University cross country team who recently set a personal best time.

Wisconsin-Parkside

This institution is the official host of the Lucian Rosa Invitational held in Kenosha.

The details

The Wildcats will navigate the Wayne E. Dannehl course in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during the competition. The team previously qualified for the NCAA Division II national finals in 2017 and aims to leverage that experience as they face this year's field.

The team last qualified for national finals in 2017.
Northern Michigan University placed runner-up at the Phoenix Open on Sept. 12, 2026.
The team finished 10th at the Roy Griak Invite on Sept. 18, 2026.
The Lucian Rosa Invitational race starts at noon EDT on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This invitational serves as a key benchmark in the team's pursuit of a return to the NCAA Division II national finals. Success in Kenosha is essential for improving the team's No. 8 regional standing as they navigate the remainder of the 2026 schedule.

The race will be contested over a 6 km distance on the Wayne E. Dannehl course. Improving upon their current No. 8 regional ranking depends on the team's ability to maintain pace after their recent 10th-place finish at the Roy Griak Invite.

The takeaway

Consistency across different course environments remains a primary goal for the Wildcats this season. Runners should track individual split times at the Wayne E. Dannehl course to see if they can beat the personal records set earlier this fall.