Sheri McCormack was not one of the Hope women's cross country team's best runners when she finished her freshman season.
Three years later, the senior from Holland (West Ottawa HS) is the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) MVP.
McCormack secured the individual accolade on Saturday by finishing second at the MIAA Championships Hope hosted at West Ottawa Golf Club.
Her time of 21 minutes, 47 seconds resulted in the same finish as she had at the MIAA Jamboree on Sept. 28. The conference championship counts two-thirds toward the overall standings.
"It's such a blessing. When I was racing, people were saying I was MVP, but at the moment, I didn't know what it meant," McCormack said. "When I crossed the line it hit me. It was overwhelming. It was a great way to end my senior season."
McCormack is Hope's sixth MIAA Most Valuable runner. She joins a club that includes Tina Pike (2004), Marcia Vandersall Bannink (1992), Katy Conlen (1991) and Tauna Jecmen (1987-88).
McCormack headlines an All-MIAA First Team that includes two teammates — senior Camille Borst of Allendale (Allendale HS) and Casey Campbell of Swartz Creek (Swartz Creek HS).
Hope freshman Erin Hermann of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton-Warrenville South) made All-MIAA Second Team.
Hope took second at the nine-team MIAA Championships with a score of 36 points. Calvin (21) won.
Borst placed sixth at the conference meet with a time of 22:39. She crossed four seconds ahead of Campbell, who was seventh.
The Flying Dutch also received points from senior Meredith Busman of Coopersville (Coopersville), who was took 10th at 22:48, and Herrmann, who was 11th at 22:48.
