by WESTVILLE, Ind. — Báhozhóni Church (Navajo and Potawatomi) finished 14th in the men’s 8K at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships on Friday, Nov. 6, as Grand Valley State won the men’s team title.
Church covered the 8K course in 25:00.1, averaging 5:01.8 per mile. He was the Lakers’ 11th finisher across the line in a deep Grand Valley State pack that put 11 runners in the top 14.
Grand Valley State sophomore Flynn Pumpa won the individual title in 24:15.1, edging Saginaw Valley’s Jacob Walker, who was second in 24:16.9. The Lakers’ scoring five all finished in the top six places — Pumpa first, Noah Selvaraj third in 24:20.9, Will Engbers fourth in 24:22.3, Kilian Whalen fifth in 24:23.3 and Owen Westerkamp sixth in 24:26.1.
Grand Valley State won the team title with 19 points. Saginaw Valley was second with 77, followed by Michigan Tech with 101, Davenport with 115 and Wayne State with 132.
The Lakers also won the women’s team title with 19 points, led by individual champion Allie Arnsman, who won the women’s 6K in 20:35.6.
Grand Valley State now turns to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Kenosha, Wis. The Lakers’ regional lineup has not been announced.
