Ferris State's Tina Muir Named GLIAC Women's Cross Country "Runner of the Year"

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BAY CITY, Mich. - Ferris State University junior Tina Muir (St. Albans, U.K.) was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) women's cross country "Runner of the Year."

GLIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Tina Muir - Ferris State
Junior
St. Albans, U.K.

Ferris State University junior Tina Muir (St. Albans, U.K.) won her fourth race in as many tries this campaign by capturing the individual title at the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships held last Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Maple Leaf Golf Course in Linwood, Mich. Muir completed the 6K women’s race in a time of 21:20.2 to finish 13 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher in the field of 137 runners. Her effort helped the nationally-ranked Bulldog women to a runner-up finish at the league championships. Muir, who twice this season has received the GLIAC's Runner of the Week Award, also finished first this fall in the Ray Helsing Bulldog Invitational (Sept. 18), the Division II Pre-National Invitational (Sept. 26) and the Wisconsin-Parkside Lucian Rosa Invitational (Oct. 10). She placed 12th overall at last year's nationals to become only the second All-American in Bulldog women's cross country history and FSU's highest finisher ever at the national championships as FSU wrapped up one of its most successful seasons ever with a 17th-place performance at the 2008 NCAA-II National Championships (11/22/08) held at Cooper's Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Pa.

GLIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Kaleigh Carlson - Grand Valley State
Freshman
Hudsonville, Mich.

Kaleigh Carlson (Hudsonville, Mich.) was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year after finishing 12th at the GLIAC Championships on Oct. 24 in Linwood, Mich. with a time of 22:22. The Lakers placed all seven runners in the top-eight to win their ninth consecutive GLIAC title and it is the sixth year GVSU has won the GLIAC Freshman of the Year award.

GLIAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year:
Jerry Baltes - Grand Valley State
9th Year

Grand Valley State head coach Jerry Baltes led the women’s cross country team to its’ ninth consecutive GLIAC championship. The Lakers totaled eight of the 14 runners on the All-GLIAC first and second teams. GVSU had four runners finish in the top-five and all seven runners placed in the top-eight at the GLIAC Championships. Newcomer Kaleigh Carlson was named the league’s Freshman of the Year, which is the sixth straight season GVSU has been awarded that honor.

-----GLIAC Women's Cross Country Weekly Notes-----

Ashland Eagles

The Eagles finished fourth at last week’s GLIAC championships. Senior Ashley Gregory (Columbus, OH/New Albany) had AU’s best finish, she finished 14th with a time of 22:37.1 (5K). Freshman Stephanie Stoffel (Cincinnati, OH/Glen Este) came across the finish line 15th in 22:41.7 and junior Mandy Farson (Massillon, OH/Jackson) was 20th in 23:01.0…the Eagles are idle until they run at the NCAA regional championships, which will be held Nov. 7 at Wisconsin-Parkside.

Ferris State Bulldogs

Ferris State University junior Tina Muir captured the individual title in leading the Bulldog women’s cross country team to a runner-up finish in the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships held on Saturday (Oct. 24) at the Maple Leaf Golf Course in Linwood, Mich. Muir completed the 6K women’s race in a time of 21:20.2 to finish 13 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher Megan Maceratini of Grand Valley State in the field of 137 runners. The victory was Muir’s fourth in as many races this fall. The Bulldogs totaled 67 teams in the team standings while earning league runner-up accolades behind champion GVSU. FSU freshman Alyssa Osika came in 13th overall for FSU (22:26.7) and claimed All-GLIAC Second Team accolades. The Bulldogs will next take part in the 2009 NCAA-II Midwest Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Kenosha, Wis.

Findlay Oilers

The University of Findlay women’s cross country teams completed the 2009 GLIAC Championship on Saturday, October 24 in Linwood, Michigan. The women’s team placed fifth with 161 points. Katherine McHenry placed 22nd with a time of 22:46.0 while Rachel Hosie checked in 40th at 23:25.1. Brier Sterling (23:36.1), Christine Zimmermann (23:49.1), Erin Calvelage (23:52.2), Tracey Stockmaster (23:56.6) and Hilary Esselstein (24:34.0) also competed for Findlay.

Grand Valley State Lakers

The Grand Valley State women’s cross country team placed all seven runners in the top-eight at the GLIAC Championships on Saturday (Oct. 24) in Linwood, Mich. GVSU had four runners in the top-five and won its ninth straight GLIAC title with a final score of 20 points, outdistancing second place Ferris State by 47 points. Megan Maceratini (Livonia, Mich.) paced the Lakers with a second-place finish with a time of 21:33. Katherine McCarthy (Marne, Mich.) who had a time of 21:42 followed her in third place. Eileen Creutz (Saline, Mich.) placed fourth (21:47), while Amy Kolin (Ypsilanti, Mich.) was right behind in fifth (21:49). Jessie Vickers (Dexter, Mich.) finished sixth (22:07.1), while Julia Nowak (Racine, Wis.) placed seventh (22:07.4). Leah Borns (Spring Lake, Mich.) crossed the finish line in eighth (22:08) and Kaleigh Carlson (Hudsonville, Mich.) placed 12th (22:22) and was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year.

Hillsdale Chargers

Both the Hillsdale College men’s and women’s cross country teams finished in third place at the 2009 GLIAC Cross Country championships, hosted by Saginaw Valley State University. Teammates Ashley Quick and Erin Brunko each earned Second-Team All-Conference honors for the women’s team.

Lake Superior State Lakers

Junior Kayla Nowak (Alpena, Mich.) placed 69th and clocked a time of 25:43.2 for the Laker women, who were 12th in the 2009 GLIAC Championship standings. Sophomore Meghan Thomas (East Jordan, Mich.) was 71st in 25:51.4, followed by freshman Aubree Danielson (Whitehall, Mich.), who was 74th in 26:27.3.

Michigan Tech. Huskies

Junior Christina Mischica was the first Husky across the line in 23:48 to finish 39th at the GLIAC Championships. Junior Alison Springer-Wilson was close behind finishing 42nd in 23:52 over the six-kilometer course.Tech finished ninth out of 12 teams. The team will enjoy a week off before racing at the NCAA Regionals hosted by Wis.-Parkside Nov. 7th.

Northern Michigan Wildcats

NMU finished the GLIAC Championship meet in seventh place with 206 points. Bibiane Mahy (34) led the Cats’ 23:36.4 followed closely by teammates Olivia Juntila (35) 23:37.6 and Kristen Schulz (36) 23:40.0.

Northwood Timberwolves

The Northwood University women’s cross country teams competed at the GLIAC Championships Saturday afternoon (October 24). Northwood placed 11th with 349 points. Hannah Stone (Lapeer, Mich./East) was the top finisher for the Timberwolves clocking a 23:58.4 over the 6K course. Noelle Lentz (Standish, Mich./Standish-Sterling) placed 82nd at 24:45.3. Northwood will compete at the NCAA Regional Championship November 7.

Saginaw Valley State Cardinals

The Saginaw Valley State University women’s cross country team finished in eighth place at the 2009 GLIAC Cross Country Championships, held at Maple Leaf Golf Course in Linwood, Mich. The Cardinals finished with 210 points for the event. Grand Valley State University won the event with a final score of 20. Amber Catlin was the top finisher for SVSU, finishing in 37th place with a time of 23:18. Ashley Meyer was next for the Cardinals with a mark of 23:43. Amanda Roache (23:55), Jean Hollerbach (24:01) and Megan Pittoors (24:14) rounded-out the scoring for the Cardinals.

Tiffin Dragons

The women’s team came in 10th of 12 teams. Rebecca Miller led the women’s team in 28th place with a time of 23:24.3, while Carly Reese was 30th in 23:25.4. Heidi Kiesel (60th), Maria Shaw (66th), and Tichelle Brant (70th) also finished in the top five for the Dragons.

Wayne State Warriors

Juniors Kristi Werner and Lauren Kessler earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors Saturday as Wayne State finished in sixth place with 171 points at the GLIAC Championship. Werner led WSU with an 11th place finish overall in a time of 22:21.0, 26 seconds better than her time at last year’s GLIAC race. Kessler’s time of 22:27.3 placed her 14th overall. Junior Annie Magin clocked a time of 23:10.2 in the 6k race to claim 35th place overall as WSU’s third runner.