Hope College

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Pictured, Lucas Guidone and Maddy Struck

General 8/29/2024 4:50:00 PM Mackenzie McMahon

2024 Men's and Women's Cross Country Season Preview

The Hope College men's and women's cross country teams are both vying for MIAA titles this season with multiple core members returning after both having successful 2023 campaigns.

A combined total of five runners return for the Flying Dutchmen and Flying Dutch.

The Hope men bring six of their top seven runners from a successful 2023 season. The Flying Dutchmen placed fourth at the 40-team NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional and runner-up in the MIAA.

The Hope women return three All-MIAA selections from a group that placed 17th at the 32-team national championships, third in the Great Lakes Region, and as MIAA co-champions. The Flying Dutch have won eight consecutive MIAA titles and competed in 13 consecutive NCAA Championships — the most successful stretch in team history.

Coaching Staff

Head coach: Mark Northuis '82, 36th season
Assistant coaches: Brian VanZanten '95, Mike Northuis

2024 Men's Roster

The Flying Dutchmen roster of 34 includes six seniors, 11 juniors, six sophomores and 11 freshmen.

Senior Connor Vachon (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison HS) and junior Ian Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins) led Hope's veteran group. Both qualified for the NCAA Championships last season.

Vachon earned MIAA Most Valuable Men's Runner honors as a sophomore.

Also returning is All-MIAA runner junior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), as well as fifth-year Dan Campbell (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton), senior Lucas Guidone (Chicago, Illinois / Taft), and junior Nile Devers (Gobles, Michigan / Gobles).

"It's a good group, and we brought in a really good freshman class," head coach Mark Northuis said. "We have some freshmen who could contribute. We will have a lot of depth this year. In addition to Connor and Ian, we had three runners under 15 minutes in the 5K last spring during track. We also had Dan Campbell excel in the steeplechase. We have a strong group of challengers to contend for a national title and get back to nationals."

2024 Women's Roster

The women's team of 34 includes six seniors, 10 juniors, 12 sophomores and six freshmen.

The Flying Dutch return a strong nucleus to the course, led by three All-MIAA runners, seniors Maddy Struck (Hainseville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) and Janie DeGroot (Northville, Michigan / Northville), and junior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South).

DeGroot and Struck join senior Audrey White (Norton Shores, Michigan / Mona Shores) as team captains.

Sophomore Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) also finished among Hope's top seven runners last year. England placed 20th at the MIAA Championships in 2023.

"We have a strong nucleus back from last year," Northuis said. "The preseason rankings are a solid start for us. We're going to build as the season goes. We have time to develop, so we're ready for the end of the season."

2024 Schedule

The cross country teams begin the journey to the NCAA Championships at The University of Olivet for the Comet Invitational on Friday, Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. at Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte.

The Louisville Classic marks another big stop on the schedule on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 9:30 a.m.

The MIAA Championships, hosted by Calvin this year, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. at Gainey Athletic Complex in Grand Rapids. The NCAA region meet is on Saturday, Nov. 15, in Franklin, Indiana.

If Hope qualifies, the NCAA Championships will take place on Saturday, Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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Players Mentioned

Dan Campbell: Fifth Year; Physical and Health Education

Carston Cole: Junior; Exercise Science

Nile Devers: Junior

Lucas Guidone: Senior; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Ian Petruska: Sophomore

Connor Vachon: Senior; Mathematics Education-Secondary and Computer Science

Janie DeGroot: Senior; Chemistry

Molly Durow: Junior; Elementary Education

Mary England: Sophomore

Maddy Struck: Senior; Exercise Science

Players Mentioned

Dan Campbell
: Fifth Year; Physical and Health Education

Carston Cole
: Junior; Exercise Science

Nile Devers
: Junior

Lucas Guidone
: Senior; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Ian Petruska
: Sophomore

Connor Vachon
: Senior; Mathematics Education-Secondary and Computer Science

Janie DeGroot
: Senior; Chemistry

Molly Durow
: Junior; Elementary Education

Mary England
: Sophomore

Maddy Struck
: Senior; Exercise Science