The Hope College women's cross country team ran with purpose and passion on Saturday at the Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte, Michigan. 

Predicted to finish third in the preseason poll, the Flying Dutch surged past expectations at Saturday's MIAA Championships, claiming second place, of eight teams, with 55 points, one point ahead of Calvin University and behind champion Trine University's 22-point performance.

"The race isn't over until you race it, so let's go out and get it done, that is what we told the team beforehand," said head coach Mark Norhuis. "It was those last hundred meters that made the difference and we had kids racing to the line, running the full race."

At the front of the race, Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois/ Glenbrook South HS) delivered a performance worthy of the spotlight. The senior charged through the course finishing runner-up in 21:36.2 and earning All-MIAA First Team honors.

"We had the track team here cheering us on and we had alumni coming back to cheer us on, so the vibes were just amazing out there," Durow said. "It really helped keep our spirits high when we were running through the race."

Hope's pack ran with remarkable precision and togetherness. 

Sophomore Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) clocked 22:29.6 for 11th place, freshman Taylor Mitchell (Otsego, Michigan / Otsego) finished 12th with a time of 22:29.7, and freshman Dylan Ballin (Brookville, Ohio / Brookville) crossed for 13th and a time of 22:30.0, all earning each All-MIAA Second Team recognition.

Freshman Anna Sybenga (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) (17th, 22:44.7), freshman Miranda Sawvel (Laramie, Wyoming / Centennial) (18th, 22:47.1), and junior Grace Baldauff (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / Northgate) (21st, 22:54.4) completed Hope's scoring pack with powerful closing efforts that sealed the team's podium finish.

Hope next races on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Louisville, Kentucky, at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.