Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's cross country teams concluded their regular season at the Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois. The men's and women's squads both achieved top ten finishes despite strategic lineup adjustments by Head Coach Jerry Baltes.

The men's team secured sixth place in the 8,000-meter race with a total of 286 points. Colin Kachlic led the Lakers, finishing 38th with a time of 24:37.0. Jayden Page followed closely in 42nd position, setting a personal-best time of 24:41.5.

The women's team performed strongly, securing third place in the Women's 6,000-meter race with 157 points. Senior Maggie O'Malley was the team's standout performer, finishing 20th with a personal-best time of 21:41.0.

In the Men's 8,000-meter Open race, six Grand Valley athletes combined for a fourth-place finish with 109 points. Bahózhóni "Baja" Church made an impressive collegiate debut by finishing second overall at 25:14.2.

Coach Baltes commented on the day's performance: "Today was a great opportunity for our crews to mix it up with some of the top teams across the country," adding that they are well-positioned for the upcoming championship season.

Grand Valley's championship season will begin on October 26 in Big Rapids, Michigan at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships hosted by Ferris State University.