MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan women's cross country team will officially open the 2026 season at the Phoenix Open in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 12.
The Wildcats enter the season coming off one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Northern finished runner-up at the GLIAC Championships and fourth out of 32 teams at the NCAA Midwest Regional, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2017. NMU went on to finish 24th nationally at the NCAA Championships and climbed as high as No. 12 in the national rankings during the season.
The Phoenix Open will mark the first official competition of the season for the Wildcats, with the race scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.
Follow The Action
Follow @NMU_Track_Field and @NMU_Wildcats on X for updates leading up to and during the race.
Season Outlook
Northern was picked to finish second in the 2026 GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 85 points. Grand Valley State took the top spot with 100 points and 10 first-place votes, while Michigan Tech received the other first-place vote.
The Wildcats enter the season under head coach
Jenny Ryan, who was named the 2025-26 NMU Coach of the Year after guiding Northern to its first NCAA Championships team appearance since 2017.
Northern returns several key contributors from last season, including sophomore
Ashley Choponis, junior
Ella DeBruyn, and senior
Lamar Gordon.
Choponis made an immediate impact during her freshman campaign, establishing herself as Northern's No. 2 runner throughout the season. She finished 16th at the GLIAC Championships in 21:38.2 to earn Second Team All-GLIAC honors before placing 20th at the NCAA Midwest Regional in 21:41.78 to earn All-Region recognition. She went on to compete at the NCAA Championships, helping the Wildcats finish 24th nationally.
Gordon also returns after earning All-GLIAC recognition last season and will look to build on that success. DeBruyn enters her junior season after competing in five meets during her sophomore campaign. She placed 72nd at the GLIAC Championships with a season-best time of 23:29.6 and led the Wildcats in their Wildcat Open exhibition on August 21.
Choponis, Gordon and DeBruyn headline a group of 25 Wildcats looking to build on last season's success. The group features 10 freshmen, four sophomores, eight juniors and three seniors.
Last Time Out
The Wildcats opened the 2026 season with the Wildcat Open exhibition on August 21. DeBruyn led Northern in the exhibition, followed by Gordon and Choponis.
