Parts of this release courtesy of the AU, GVSU, and WSU Media Relations Departments
Big Rapids, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will be well represented at the 2011 NCAA Men's Cross Country Championship. Three of the four schools that advanced from the Midwest Region are GLIAC members. Grand Valley State University's Anthony Witt was the Midwest Region individual champion finishing the 10 kilometer course in 31:58.5. The Midwest Regional was held at Ferris State University's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.
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Grand Valley State won the regional with only 20 points. Southern Indiana University was second with 75 points. Ashland University finished the race in third with 88 points. Wayne State University was fourth with 183 points rounding out the NCAA Championship qualifiers. The 2011 Division II Men's Cross Country Championship will take place November 19, 2011 at the Plante’s Ferry Athletic Complex in Spokane, Wash. at 3:00 p.m.
Grand Valley State -- The third-ranked Grand Valley State men's cross country team won their 10th straight regional title this past weekend in Big Rapids, Mich. Senior Anthony Witt won the regional crown, his second consecutive meet victory after claiming the GLIAC Championship last weekend. Witt paced a group of four Lakers who finished in the top five of the individual standings as the team comfortably won the title with a 20 point team total compared to second place's 75 points. Witt was first with a time of 31:58.5 while he was followed just behind by senior Tyler Emmorey in a time of 32:00.6. It continued a streak of Witt and Emmorey finishing next to each other in the individual standings, a streak that has extended throughout the entire cross country season. Seniors Ryan Toth (32:22.5) and Nathan Knisely (32:23.1) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Sophomore Brent Showerman finished eighth with a time of 32:34.8, placing all of the scored Lakers within the top eight. GVSU will now prepare for the NCAA National Championship on November 19th in Spokane, Wash.
Ashland -- The AU men secured a spot at nationals on Saturday in Big Rapids. The top three teams in a field of 22 entrants qualified for nationals. Ashland placed third. Seniors Brock Weaver and Matt Stratman set the pace for the Eagles. Weaver finished seventh in 32:33.3 and Stratman was ninth in 32:35.8. It was not an easy day for Weaver who actually fell down at one point in the race. Junior Tom Scott, coming off an exceptional race at the GLIAC Championships (14th), was 19th in 33:09.8. Freshman Brian Baum was 26th in 33:16.9 and senior Cameron Johnson was 27th in 33:17.8. Sophomore Jake Sussman was 45th in 33:45.6 and junior Colton Johnson was 86th in 34:39.9.
Wayne State -- The Wayne State University men's cross country team claimed a fourth place finish at the 2011 NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Ferris State University at Katke Golf Course on Saturday. While senior Alex Townsend capped his career at WSU by earning All-Region honors for the second consecutive year, senior Kevin deBear ran to All-Region accolades in the 10k run. Townsend tallied a 17th place finish with a time of 33:02.7 and deBear was 21st with a time of 33:11.5. As junior Jimmy Maloney recorded a 40th place time of 33:34.6, senior Travis Barczak and sophomore Nick Jackson finished side-by-side in 52nd and 53rd, respectively. Junior Phil Baldick posted a 62nd place finish with a time of 34:07.2 and junior Jason Smith rounded out the Warriors with an 82nd place mark of 34:37.4.
