JOPLIN, MO – The Grand Valley State women's cross country team is bringing the hardware back to Allendale, as they claimed their seventh NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship title on Saturday, November 18
th ! The Laker women recorded an overall team score of 59 points, followed by Adams State (86 pts), Colorado School of Mines (121 pts) and Western Colorado (150 pts).
Women's Final Results
Men's Final Results
Grand Valley State finished with four out of seven runners in the Top 15 and six runners placing within the Top 50. In addition, five Lakers finished the women's 6k recording a new personal-best time, cutting off at least 10 seconds each.
Seniors,
Natalie Graber and
Klaudia O'Malley led the Lakers to a National Title as Graber claimed third-place with a new personal-best time of 19:50.3 and O'Malley in eighth recording another personal-best of 20:07.6.
Ana Tucker and
Lauren Kiley were the final two Lakers to finish within the Top 15 for the women, placing 14
th(Tucker) with a personal-best time of 20:15.1 and 15
th (Kiley) in a new record time of 20.17.7. While freshman
Allie Arnsman rounded out the Lakers' team score, finishing in 33
rd with another personal-best time of 20:38.3.
Head Coach
Jerry Baltes stated, "What a great day for the women. They executed perfectly and competed tough from start to finish. I am so proud and very thankful for all who hand a hand in this effort especially our seniors who have worked long and hard to earn this Championship".
Additionally, the Laker women added onto their National Title victory as they earned five USTFCCCA All-American honors. And bring home Grand Valley State University their 29
th National Championship Title!
On the men's side, Grand Valley State fell short as they finished seventh overall with a team score of 183 points. The Laker men finished with four runners in the Top 50 led by
Koby Fraaza and
Caleb Futter. Fraaza placed 31
st with a time of 30:11.3 and Futter in 38
th in a time of 30:19.5, both men earning USTFCCCA All-American honors.
Elias Bergman and
Cal Yackin were the remaining two Lakers to finish within the Top 50 for the men, placing 47
th (Bergman) in a time of 30:28.4 and 49
th (Yackin) with a time of 30:28.9.
Baltes stated, "Our men raced hard and tough but just couldn't get over the hump throughout the race".
The Laker women finished their 2023 season as GLIAC Champions, Midwest Regional Champions and NCAA Division II National Champions. While the men finished out their season as GLIAC Champions and Midwest Regional Champions.
