Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's cross country teams are set to begin their postseason at the 2025 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships on Saturday. The event, hosted by Davenport University, will take place at Calvin University's Gainey Athletic Facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The women's 6k race starts at 11 a.m., followed by the men's 8k at 11:45 a.m. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.

The Lakers aim to continue their long-standing success in the conference. The women's team has won the GLIAC title every year since 2001, while the men have secured first place annually since 2002. Last year, the women finished with 23 points and placed six runners in the top nine and nine in the top twenty. The men's team achieved a perfect score of 15, with eleven athletes finishing in the top twenty and seven in the top ten—a feat marking only the second perfect score in program history and third in conference history.

Both teams are currently ranked first in both the conference and Midwest Region. Nationally, the women are ranked second in NCAA Division II, significantly ahead of Northern Michigan within their conference. The men's team is ranked fourth nationally, ahead of Saginaw Valley State's men who hold second place in the Midwest Region.

This year's championship will feature fifteen women and fifteen men representing Grand Valley State. According to season-best performances, thirteen of the top fifteen women's times in GLIAC belong to Lakers athletes. Lauren Kiley leads this group as reigning national champion, having posted a season-best time of 20:44.8 at the Spartan Invitational. Eight Lakers are listed among GLIAC's women's top ten performers.

The men's lineup is similarly strong; eight of GLIAC's top ten times this season are held by Lakers runners, with eleven out of fifteen fastest times also from Grand Valley State. Báhozhóni Church and Koby Fraaza are among those leading with standout performances at Notre Dame's Joe Piane Invitational.

Fans can follow live results through Michiana timing or watch coverage on FloSports during Saturday’s races. Updates, photos, and videos will be available on Grand Valley State cross country’s social media channels, with a full recap posted on gvsulakers.com after completion of events.

"Be sure to follow @GVSUXCTF on Instagram and X and GVSU CC and TF on Facebook for photos, videos and more. A full story detailing the races and awards will be posted to gvsulakers.com at the conclusion of the day. Official results will be provided once finalized."

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