From GVSU Sports Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Grand Valley State men's and women's cross country team proved once again that are they the best in the Midwest at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Championship. Hannah Becker led the women's team to a first-place finish clocking in third overall with a personal-best time of 20:47.6. Klaudia O'Malley finished right next to Becker claiming fourth with a personal-best time of 20:47.6.
Taryn Chapko crossed the line in eighth with a personal-best time of 21:10.8. Kayce Rympa followed closely behind in ninth with a personal-best time of 21:13.2. Becker, O'Malley, Chapko, Rympa earned First Team All-Region finishing with in the top 15. Lucy Karpukhno finished 16th with a personal-best time of 21:31.2 earning Second Team All-Region.
The Laker women easily secured their place to Nationals finishing first with 40 points, Southern Indiana second (110 points), and Cedarville third (137 points). The Laker women improved their record to 20 consecutive wins at the Midwest Regional Championship.
The Laker men claimed their 19th consecutive win at the Midwest Regionals scoring 49 points, 69 points away from second place Lewis (118), Walsh took third with 135. The men's team had a close photo finish, as Tanner Chada claimed second with less than a tenth of second behind first place, Carlee Stimpfel from Saginaw Valley State with a personal-best time of 30:02.6.
Four Laker men made the First Team All-Region, including Chada. Caleb Futter crossed sixth with a time of 30:20.7. Jacob Lee finished 10th with a time of 30:40.5 and Sam Martens crossed the line in 14th clocking in at 30:51.9. Jesse Becker completed the Lakers score finishing 17th with a time of 31:00.1 earning Second Team All-Region.
The Lakers travel to St. Leo, Florida on Nov. 20 to compete at the NCAA DII National Championship. The men are currently ranked first in the nation by the USTFCCCA poll, with the women ranked second behind Adams State. The Laker men and women last won the Cross Country National Championships in 2018, with the women finishing Runner-Up in 2019.
