WESTVILLE, IN. – Grand Valley State's cross country team raced its way to two more GLIAC Championships this afternoon! The Lady Lakers have won every Cross Country Conference title since 2001, and the men since 2002. The women hold the longest active title streak in NCAA Cross Country, the men hold the second longest (North Central).
RESULTS
The Laker men raced first, and were led by Flynn Pumpa, who's 24:15 finishing time earned himself the title of GLIAC Champion. Next up was Noah Selveraj, who finished 3rd overall with a 24:20 time in the 8000m. Will Engbers finished as the top freshman in the field with a 24:22 finishing time. Kilian Whalen followed quickly behind Engbers, finishing fifth overall with a time of 24:23. Filling out the top seven are no strangers to GLIAC competition, Owen Westerkamp, 2026 High Point Scorer in the outdoor track conference finals, Conor Somers, the 2025 High Point Scorer in outdoor, and Sebastian Ramirez, last years Freshman of the Year in the fall. Seth Conner, Connor Nolan, John Mabar, Bahozhoni Church and Kyler Dean were the remaining runners, all twelve GV runners placed in the top fifteen.
Allie Arnsman led the Lady Lakers, the seasoned vet earned her first GLIAC Cross Country title. Karen Kiratu finished second overall with a time of 21:01. Freshman Annie Alkema finished third, completing the podium sweep for the women. Annika Sandman was the next Lady Laker to cross the line, placing sixth with a finishing time of 21:32. Ava Crews followed closely behind with a time of 21:34. Cara Newman and Natalie Mello crossed the line together, with times of 21:37 and 21:39 respectively. Lydia LaMarra, Megan Postma, Sinead Noonan, Madeleine Hill, Mea D'Agostino rounded out the Lakers in blue, all in the top 32, with 107 women taking the course.
The Lakers walked away with every award in the competition, GLIAC Runner of the Year awards went to Arnsman and Pumpa, Freshman of the Year awards to Alkema and Engbers, and the coaching staff took home both mens and womens Coaching Staff of the Year.
Grand Valley State Cross Country's postseason rolls on in Kenosha, Wisconsin for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. More information will be posted via gvsulakers.com and @GVSUXCTF on Instagram and X, as well as GVSU CC and TF on Facebook.
