Jilanne Bannink, Alicia Mendenhall-Elmore and Marcia VanderSall are some of the names that help comprise the rich tradition of Hope College women's cross country. Here are five things to know about the Flying Dutch.

1

One orange and blue school bus is used to transport the teams to their practices. Hope cross country personifies the Division III model for participation, annually attracting in the area of 20-30 runners to the team.

4

Best place for the Flying Dutch individually and as a team at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Fourth was an amazing accomplishment for a 1993 team that had finished second at both the conference and regional championships. The Flying Dutch came in 10th in 2012, their second-best finish. The top best finish by a Hope runner at the Division III women's cross country championships was fourth place by Marcia Vandersall ('93) in 1992. A year later, Alicia Mendenhall-Elmore ('94) placed fifth at the national meet.

7

Number of All-MIAA honors for Jilanne Bannink ('91). She is Hope's most decorated female athlete by the MIAA, being All-MIAA in cross country four consecutive years and three years in swimming.

15

The Flying Dutch, coached by Mark Northuis, claimed the MIAA Team GPA award for 15th time with a 3.440 Team GPA. The Flying Dutch are one of two MIAA teams to receive the honor every year since the program began. 

18

Number of times the Flying Dutch have been a top-five team in their NCAA Division III region over a 30-year period. Cross country for women became an intercollegiate sport at Hope in 1981. Over a relatively short period of time, the program has become highly regarded at the conference, regional and national level. Five years into the program Hope was both conference and NCAA Division III Great Lakes regional champion.