For their 22nd and 23rd consecutive seasons, respectively, the Grand Valley State University men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to Big Rapids for the 2024 GLIAC Cross Country Championships. The teams dominated the competition, with GVSU sweeping in both the meet and awards.
The GVSU Lakers impressively captured five of the six GLIAC cross country awards. Both the men’s and women’s teams received the honorary title of the 2024 GLIAC Champions.
The Lakers’ cross country teams wouldn’t be successful without the guidance and support of coaches. For the 21st time in program history, GVSU’s coaching staff received the GLIAC Cross Country Coach and Coaching Staff of the Year Awards.
With a perfect score of 15, the men’s squad fought for the top five spots on the board. This perfect score marks the second time this has happened in GVSU men’s history– only the third time in GLIAC history. Overall, the Lakers finished with 11 men in the top 20, which resulted in a perfect score.
Leading the team was senior Caleb Futter, who finished in first place at 24:04.8 with an overall pace of 4:50. Futter was honored as the 2024 GLIAC Men’s Runner of the Year, and was awarded First-Team All-GLIAC honors.
Futter’s grit and focus helped place GVSU at the top, but the men’s team couldn’t have accomplished the perfect score without the other 11 men.
Just three seconds behind Futter, junior Koby Fraaza received second place, crossing the finish line at 24:07.77 with an overall pace of 4:51. Junior Patrick Lyell secured the third spot on the podium with a time of 24:30.0, and an overall pace of 4:55. Freshman Owen Westerkamp finished in tenth place at 24:46.5 with an overall pace of 4:59. His placement awarded him the title of 2024 GLIAC Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year.
The GVSU women’s team placed first with 23 points total. Six of the lady Lakers finished in the top 10, securing the championship. Leaders junior Lauren Kiley and sophomore Allie Arnsman placed in the top two. Kiley navigated the race at a pace of 5:34, and finished first at 20:46.2. She was honored as the 2024 GLIAC Women’s Cross Country Champion. Arnsman finished in second place at 20:46.2 with a pace of 5:36.
The win for Kiley not only signified a great accomplishment, but also stood as her first race of the 2024 season. Kiley suffered an injury in the preseason that prevented her from competing prior to the championship. Spending the entirety of the regular season on the sidelines made Kiley even more motivated entering the match. Persevering with an injury and finishing in first place, Kiley was also named the 2024 GLIAC Women’s Runner of the Year, and received First-Team All-GLIAC honors.
“It (the awards) means a great deal to me, as racing is the gift that all this training gives you, Kiley said. “(Since) my season hasn’t been full of races, and more so just coming out of injury, it serves to prove that if you are willing to work harder than you ever have before, you can achieve things you never thought you could have. ”
While Kiley played a crucial role for the GVSU women’s squad, she also stressed the importance of her community, coaches and teammates.
Other honorable mentions from the women’s squad include junior Maggie O’Malley, junior Maria Mitchell, and freshman Annika Sandman for receiving First-Team All-GLIAC. Sophomore Jordyn Hopgood was named Second Team All-GLIAC for finishing in 13th.
Dominating the races and awards, GVSU’s cross country teams are eager for more.
“This team is full of really talented, hardworking individuals,” Kiley said. “With a large amount of medals and trophies for one race, (it) shows the world a glimpse of the talent and dedication present on this team, on both the athletes’ and the coaches’ sides.”
GVSU’s men’s and women’s cross country teams will travel to Romeoville, Illinois for the NCAA Midwest regional on Saturday, Nov. 9.
