EAST LANSING, MICH. – Grand Valley State's cross country programs opened their 2024 season at the Spartan Invitational on Friday, Sept 13. Both Laker men and women claimed second place in East Lansing behind host school Michigan State. 

The Laker ladies collected 31 points on the day, trailing just behind Michigan State's 28. The men's squad recorded 41 points to fall second behind the Spartans' 23 points.

Senior Caleb Futter took first place in the men's collegiate 8k, crossing the finish line at 24:42.3. 

Last season, Futter placed 17^th at the Spartan Invite with a time of 25:10.8. 

"Normally it's hard to get started for the season," Futter said. "It's a big deal to come out here and actually do what I planned to do."

Butler transfer Abby Olson led the Lakers in the women's collegiate 6k with a second-place finish at 21:32.1. Just behind Olson was sophomore Allie Arnsman who took third with a time of 21:34.7.

'"I wanted to go into [the race] in a good position, work with my teammates [and] finish hard at the end," said Olson. The senior repeatedly emphasized that it was a team effort."

Senior runner Maria Widmann ran a personal-best 6k time of 22:34.5 to place 21^st. Jordyn Hopgood also added a personal-best to her resume with a time of 22:44.7, more than 20 seconds faster than her previous best.

The Laker cross country teams had five athletes finish in the top ten. Nearly all of GVSU's women's squad were within the first 50 to cross the finish line. Fourteen of 25 of the men's squad achieved a top 50 time.

Grand Valley cross country races again on Saturday, Sept. 28 for the Calvin Knight Invite hosted by Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich.