2017 GLIAC Cross Country Championships Central | #GLIACXC
MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers have swept the 2017 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships for the 16th consecutive season on Saturday (Oct. 21) at Gentz's Homestead Golf Course in Marquette. The meet was hosted by Northern Michigan University.
The Lakers ran their stretch of GLIAC titles to 17 straight on the women's side and 16 consecutive on the men's side.
In the women's competition, the Grand Valley State squad totaled 17 points to earn the top prize by putting seven runners inside the Top 9 which was led by junior Gina Patterson who earned GLIAC Runner of the Year accolades following a 21:47.3 just .6 in front of teammate Stacey Metzger who finished runner-up. GVSU's Allie Ludge recorded a third place finish, while her fellow Laker teammate Madison Goen collected GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Host school Northern Michigan took second on the women's side with 62 points paced by Kameron Burmeister and Katelyn Smith who finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Michigan Tech third (101) with Saginaw Valley (103) and Ferris State (119) completing the top five.
The GVSU men amassed an impressive 20 points on the day with its top seven finishers occupying the No. 2 through 8 posittions to capture the championship. The Lakers were paced by Wuoi Mach, GLIAC Freshman of the Year Enael Woldemichael and Zach Panning who earned the 2-3-4 positions in the final results. Saginaw Valley finished second for the second straight year with 76 points led by Parker Eisengruber. Michigan Tech placed third with 109 points, while Ferris State (144) and Ashland (154) rounded out the top five.
Individually, Tiffin senior James Ngandu captured his third-consecutive league title and GLIAC Runner of the Year honors after he ran the course in a blazing 24:27.4, 13 seconds in front of his nearest competitor. GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes collected GLIAC Coach of the Year honors on both the men's and women's side after his program continued their impressive streak of conference titles. It marks the 15th time Baltes has captured the award on the women's side with this being his 11th consecutive honor, while it being his 14th women's award as he received his tenth straight plaque.
First team All-GLIAC awards were handed out to the Top 10 finishers in each race, while second team honors were awarded to finishers 11 through 20 with the exception of only the first seven finishers for each team are eligible for all-league accolades. Click here to view full awards results.
