The Grand Valley State track and field teams are trying to repeat the same success that the cross country team had in the fall, and, with many of the same athletes competing in both sports, the possibility of that happening is very much in reach.

“We have our own set of lofty expectations and goals that we want to accomplish during the season, and you can see that by looking at the wall and seeing everything that our program has accomplished,” said GVSU cross country and track and field coach Jerry Baltes. “Having the cross country team be that successful doesn’t hurt anything. If anything, it helps us a lot and keeps our motivation level there.

“Having the cross country team being that successful in the fall doesn’t add any extra pressure on the team. If there is any extra pressure that is added, it is all internal among the team, and that is because we set high goals for ourselves when it comes to the program.”

The GVSU cross country teams finished first and second at the national championships in Louisville, Ky.

The expectations for this year’s track and field teams are high, as usual, as the teams finished third and seventh at the outdoor national championships in Allendale last May.

GVSU will have to replace a key contributor from last year’s team, however, in pole vault extraordinaire Kristen Hixson as well as other seniors who have since graduated.

“You cannot replace an athlete like Kristen, but we have many components on the team that will help us replace the production that she had for us,” Baltes said. “We have many good underclassmen that came in, a lot of experienced athletes and a graduate student who transferred here also that we are looking to help contribute to the track team this year.

“One of the things that is a key to our team and that sets us apart is the depth that we have. Most teams in our conference normally score one person in an event where, on our team, there has been times when we have scored two or three people per event in the conference.”

One athlete GVSU can count on is sophomore Kendra Foley.

Foley (Noblesville, Ind.) is one of the two-sport athletes, running cross country and track. She was nominated for the Division II Honda Woman of the Year award after winning an individual national championship in Louisville.

“Having such a successful year this year in cross country makes me work that much harder for track because I have a target on my back having won the championship in the fall,” Foley said. “It doesn’t change anything, if anything it will help me prepare for the season so I can be just as successful.”

The Lakers host the Bob Eubanks Open on Friday in the Kelly Family Sports Center at 10:15 a.m.