FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Zach Raber their Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. Raber led Trine to its first women's cross country conference championship in program history this fall.
 
The Thunder dominated the MIAA Championships last Saturday, earning five First-Team All-MIAA selections en route to scoring 22 points, 33 less than second-place Hope College. Sidney Swick became the just the third Trine runner to win an individual conference title joining Evie Miller (2019, 2021) and Amanda Portis (2002, WHAC).
 
Raber took over the Thunder cross country program in 2013 which had not finished better than seventh in the MIAA. In just his fourth year he lead Trine to their first top half finish with a fourth place showing in 2016. The next two years he guided the Thunder to third place finishes before breaking through with a second place showing in 2019, led by Miller's individual title. Trine again finished second last year and returned five of its top seven for this year's campaign. The Thunder opened the season with wins over multiple Division I schools at a pair of meets at Purdue Fort Wayne. The results shot Trine up to #15 nationally, it's highest ranking ever. Trine place second at the Louisville Cross Country Classic and again achieved their highest ranking at #11. Trine then headed to the Augustana Interregional Rumble where they took second place and defeated #7 UChicago and #10 WashU. The result propelled Trine to #8 nationally and saw Swick and Bailey Puckett rank inside the top-50 nationally as individuals.
 
Trine then classed the field at the MIAA Championships, finishing 1-3-5-6-7 to dominate the conference standings. The Thunder rank #1 in the Great Lakes Region and will look to defend their ranking next Saturday in Louisville, Ky.