Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's men's and women's cross country teams continued their dominance at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships, securing victories for the 22nd and 23rd consecutive seasons. The men's team achieved a perfect score in the 8k Championship, marking only the second time in Grand Valley's history to do so, with eleven runners finishing in the top 20.

Caleb Futter led the men's team with a time of 24:04.8, followed closely by Koby Fraaza and Patrick Lyell. The Lakers swept all awards for their performance, with Futter being named the 2024 GLIAC Men's Runner of the Year. Freshman Owen Westerkamp was recognized as the 2024 GLIAC Men's Freshman Runner of the Year.

The women's team also performed strongly, securing first place with nine top-20 finishes. Lauren Kiley led from start to finish, winning her first race of the season after recovering from an injury. "I honestly just kept thinking about my teammates," said Kiley, who was named the 2024 GLIAC Women's Runner of the Year.

The coaching staff received accolades as well, being named GLIAC Cross Country Coach/Coaching Staff of the Year for the 21st time. Head Coach Jerry Baltes praised both teams for executing their race plans effectively.

The Laker cross country teams will next compete at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on November 9th in Romeoville, Illinois.