EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers once again swept the team competitions at the 2016 NCAA Division II Midwest Regionals on Saturday (Nov. 5) hosted by the University of Southern Indiana. The GVSU women won their 16th consecutive regional title with a total of 43 points while Northern Michigan (181) and Hillsdale (185) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, to earn team bids to the NCAA Championship meet.
The Lakers then recorded a score of 45 points to dominate the men's competition for the 15th consecutive year as Southern Indiana finished a distance second with 99 points. Saginaw Valley earned a trip to nationals after a third place finish (110 points), while Hillsdale's men will join their women in Florida following a fourth-place performance with a 130 total.
Two-time defending GLIAC Cross Country Champion James Ngandu from Tiffin won the overall competition crossing the finish line first with a time of 30:13.24 to continue his impressive season. Ashland's Nick Hall also qualified for national with a runner-up showing after he ran the course in 30:23.03. GVSU's Chris May and Zach Panning finish fourth and fifth to propel the Laker men to the team title.
On the women's side, Grand Valley State senior and defending GLIAC Cross Country Champion Kendra Foley finished third (20:19.57) to pace the Lakers, while Hillsdale's Hannah McIntyre led the Chargers with a fifth-place output. GVSU's Stacey Metzger, GLIAC Freshman of the Year, took sixth with Northern Michigan standout Kameron Burmeister placing seventh. Saginaw Valley's Allison Dorr also qualified for nationals as an individual following her 15th-place finish.
The Division II NCAA National Championships will take place November 19th at 10:30 am and will be hosted by St. Leo in Florida. The top five programs in each race advance to the national meet.
