EAST LANSING, MICH. – Grand Valley State headed to East Lansing (Sept. 16^th) to compete in the Spartan Invitational as their second meet of the season. The Lakers finished in first (men) and second place (women) last year when competing in the Spartan Invitational and were able to achieve a repeat victory this year. 
 
The GVSU men's team scored a total of 45 points earning them a first place finish in front of three NCAA Division I teams; Cincinnati (89 pts.), No. 30 Michigan State (115 pts.) and Kent State (162 pts.). The Lakers finished the Spartan Invitational 8k with a total of thirteen men placing in the Top 50, five in the Top 20 and three in the Top 10 out of 279 runners on the day.
 
Senior, Tanner Chada held roughly a thirty second lead thru the end, crossing the finish line in a time of 24:03.70 and claiming a first place finish for the GVSU men. Andrew Hylen and Koby Fraaza finished neck and neck placing eighth (Hylen) with a time of 24:49.22 and ninth (Fraaza) with a time of 24:49.50
 
Tanner Chada stated, "I wanted to put in a good 2-3k surge and once I caught him, I decided I just wanted to put in another surge to get by him to open the lead up and just cruise it in. It was a good day and a good start to the season". 
 
The GVSU women's team recorded a total of 71 points awarding the Lakers a second place finish falling shortly behind Michigan State but defeating Suny Geneseo (127 pts.), John Hopkins (142pts.) and Cincinnati (156). 

Junior, Natalie Graber was the first GVSU runner to cross the line with a time of 21:27.00, placing fourth overall in the women's 6k. Klaudia O'Malley and Taryn Chapko were the next two Lakers to finish for Grand Valley State, placing fourteenth (O'Malley) and eighteenth (Chapko). The Lakers ended with eleven runners finishing in the Top 50 and six in the Top 30 out of 231 runners overall. 
 
Grand Valley State competes at the Live In Lou XC Classic in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, October 1^st at 8am.