GLIAC Sweep the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional in Women's Cross Country
Parts of this release courtesy of the AU, FSU, GVSU, and SVSU Media Relations Departments
Big Rapids, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) had a strong showing at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional this past weekend. All four Midwest Regional teams advancing to the NCAA Championship are members of the GLIAC. The Conference was also represented by the women's individual regional champion in Hillsdale College's Amanda Putt, who finished the 6K course in a time of 21:26.4. The Midwest Regional was held at Ferris State University's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.
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The defending NCAA Champions, Grand Valley State University, won the regional with a team score totaling 29. Ferris State was second running on their home course and finished with 106 total points. Saginaw Valley State University qualified for the NCAA meet with a third place finish and 135 total points. Ashland University will round out the Midwest Region representatives as the Eagles finished fourth accumulating 193 total points. The 2011 Division II Women's Cross Country Championship will take place November 19, 2011 at the Plante’s Ferry Athletic Complex in Spokane, Wash. at 2:00 p.m.
Grand Valley State -- The second-ranked Grand Valley State women's cross country team won their 11th straight regional championship this past weekend in Big Rapids, Mich. Senior Rebecca Winchester led the way, finishing in third place in the individual results with a time of 21:37.3. In fourth place was GLIAC Freshman of the Year Rachel Clark with a time of 21:47.2 followed by seniors Julia Nowak (21:47.6) and Jessie Vickers (21:58.3) in fifth and sixth, giving the Lakers four runners in the top six. GVSU claimed the team crown with a 29 point team total, outdistancing second place Ferris State who finished with 106 points. The Lakers placed all seven runners on the team within the top 25, meaning the entire squad that traveled to the regional earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors. GVSU will now prepare for the NCAA National Championship on November 19th in Spokane, Wash. as they look to defend their national title.
Ferris State -- The Ferris State University women's cross country team is headed to the NCAA Division II National Championships for the fourth consecutive year after placing second overall in the 2011 NCAA-II Midwest Regional. The Bulldog women ran without their top two runners in senior Tina Muir and sophomore Samantha Johnson, who both did not compete due to injuries. Sophomore Anna Rudd paced Ferris State as she finished second overall in a time of 21:35 on the 6K women's course to claim all-region accolades. Bulldog junior Alyssa Osika took 10th place (22:20.8) and was followed by junior Shelby Janutol in the 16th spot (22:38.8) with sophomore Brittany Anderson coming in 27th (23:05.6). Junior Felicia Slate captured 51st place (23:38.7), freshman Kristie Lesage came in 71st (23:56.0) and junior Jordan McGuire was 122nd (25:06.2).
Saginaw Valley State -- The Lady Cardinals were led by Megan Pittoors and Alycia Wright who both earned All-Region Honors by finishing 20th and 22nd overall with final times of 22:51.40 and 22:52.40 for the 6k. Following close behind Pittoors and Wright was senior Jean Hollerbach who crossed the line at 23:02.50 which was good for a 26th place finish. Junior Lauren Hill would time in at 23:10.90, good for a 31st place finish. Crossing the line 36th overall was freshman Emily Short who clocked in at 23:20.20 for the 6k. Teammates Ashley Meyer and Chelsea Savage would round out the Cardinals top-seven, coming in at 23:23.50 and 23:45.90 good for 37th and 59th place finishes, respectively.
Ashland -- The Eagles were sure-footed in every instance and finished fourth Saturday out of 23 teams. That finish earned the Eagles a berth at the NCAA Division II national championships in two weeks (Nov. 19) in Spokane, Wash. The fourth spot was the last qualifying spot for nationals. AU had two runners earn all-region honors, seniors Stephanie Stoffel and Mandy Farson. Stoffel finished seventh in 22:09.8 and Farson was 19th in 22:50.5. Freshman Anna Mion ran the race in 23:11.7 and was 32nd. Junior Kaylie Snyder was 66th in 23:52.8 and junior McKenzie Roth was 69th in 23:55.7.
