Slater, Dowdell Take Sixth, Become AU’s Initial First-Team All-Great Midwest Runners

Junior Nate Slater's rise during the 2024 cross country season took another big jump on Saturday (Oct. 26) morning at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship.
 
Slater took sixth place individually in an 8K PR time of 25:00.0 – becoming the Eagle program's first first-team All-Great Midwest honoree. He has shaved more than a minute off his first 8K race time of the fall (26:06.6).
 
As a team, Ashland's men took eighth place in the 11-team field (175 team points). Host Hillsdale won with 50 team points, followed by Findlay (60) and Walsh (68).
 
The Eagles' top five on Saturday included Slater and:

• Junior Michael Snopik – 34^th – 26:07.4
• Fifth-year Konnor Ray – 38^th – 26:12.9 (PR)
• Junior Daylen Madison – 55^th – 26:37.2 (PR)
• Senior Colton Pinkerton – 56^th – 26:37.7

Then, in the women's 6K conference race, senior Lily Dowdell gave the Eagles a second sixth-place finish – and second all-league performer – on the day, as she crossed the finish line in an AU PR time of 21:59.8.
 
Dowdell's placement helped the AU women finish in seventh in the 12-team field (208 team points). Walsh won the women's race with 50 team points, followed by Cedarville (52 points) and Hillsdale (85).
 
The rest of the Eagle women's placers on Saturday were:

• Sophomore Lauren Bero – 46^th – 23:39.8.
• Sophomore Molly Coleman – 58^th – 24:00.6 (PR).
• Sophomore Amandine Binet – 64^th – 24:09.6 (PR).
• Sophomore Elisabeth Willett – 84^th – 25:13.5.

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