No. 21 Men’s Cross Country Repeats as MIAA Champion

The 21st-ranked Hope College men's cross country team fended off all challengers to repeat as MIAA champion on Saturday and capture the 17th league title in program history.

Powered by six of the meet's fastest 14 8K runs, the Flying Dutch finished with a first-place score of 40 points — eight better than the nearest competitor at Marshall Country Club.

The Hope women also claimed their MIAA championship, giving the Orange and Blue their first sweep of league titles since 1986.

Head coach Mark Northuis praised the team effort that put the Flying Dutch ahead of runner-up Calvin (48) and others. Trine University (57) finished third and was followed by Kalamazoo College (120), The University of Olivet (146), Alma College (187), Adrian College (203), and host Albion College (207).

"Our depth made a big difference. Our top four featured our fifth and sixth runners," Northuis said. "We ran a really good race today and came through with a victory."

Sophomore Aiden Moore (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) led Hope with a second-place effort of 25:01.7, a personal-best time. Trine's Blake Overmyer took first after a personal-best 24:50.7.

Junior Joe Waalkes (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) placed sixth at 25:14.9.

Sophomore Elijah Forbord (Howell, Michigan / Brighton) finished sixth at 25:19.9.

Senior Nile Devers (Gobles, Michigan / Gobles) recorded a 10th-place, personal-best effort of 25:21.7.

Junior Cooper Jacobsen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) capped Hope's scoring with a 13th-place time of 25:30.4, a season-best.

Three more Hope runners finished in the top 20.

Junior Elias Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) placed 14th after a run of 25:34.4.

Sophomore Kaden Forward (Bear Lake, Michigan / Bear Lake) clocked a 19th-place, personal-best time of 25:48.6.

Freshman Ethan Hertza (Northville, Michigan / Northville) took 20th with a personal-best 25:49.9.

Hope next races on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional at Michigan State University's Forest Akers Golf Course.

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