Looking to make long-distance history like Lewis and Clark, the Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams will be traveling west to compete this weekend for a national title at the NCAA Division II National Championship meet in Spokane, Wash.

The Lakers and teams across the country will put their best feet forward this Saturday, each vying for the national crown. The meet will take place at the Plantes Ferry Sports Complex, with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the Spokane Regional Sports Commission partnering up to cohost the race.

The Lakers are looking to blaze the trail and come away with two national titles. In 2010, the women’s team captured
its first national championship in program history in Louisville, Ken., while the men placed the highest in the program’s history, finishing in third place.

With the race fast approaching, GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes said he knows his team is ready for the competition.

“Both squads have put in the needed work both physically and mentally to be ready to compete at a high level this weekend,” he said. “Now we just need to focus on competing to the best of our ability on Saturday.”

Throughout the season, both teams have competed almost exclusively in the Midwest, making this their first trip out west. The challenge in this race will not only come from stiff competition but the climate as well.

“We are prepared for any weather condition,” Baltes said. “We have raced in rain, mud and cold all season, and that is what it looks like we will face again. So we will be ready for what Mother Nature throws our way and make the most out of it.”

While staying focused, the Lakers have knocked down the miles they run during the two weeks of training for the national meet to make sure they have fresh legs for Saturday,
but the intensity has stayed the same throughout the season.

The men have only one focus this weekend, to finally get over the hump of winning their first national championship.
After last year’s finish, the men have been hungry for the title and have only fallen once this season — at Division
I Penn State University by eight points.

“The big difference this year has been confidence, which has been especially difficult
with all of the injuries and illnesses our team has gone through,” said senior Anthony Witt, GLIAC runner of the year. “We came into this year with only one goal, and we have stayed focused and confident in our training so that we can achieve that goal this weekend.”

While the men run for their first title, the women are looking to repeat. After a slow start to the season, Baltes said the women are now on track to race this weekend after a great race for the Regional title.

“We are going to race and compete to win the national championship,” said senior Rebecca Winchester. “Like Jerry always says, this is a business trip.”

To watch the race online, visit www.ncaa.com at 11 a.m. Saturday.

[email protected]