ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State's cross country team starts their season off tomorrow at the Calvin Knight Invite, on Calvin's campus in East Grand Rapids. The 2026 season begins at 10 a.m. as the women race in the collegiate 6k race, and the men will follow in the 8k at 10:45. 

 

Live Results

Meet Info

Course Map – Men's 8k

Course Map – Women's 6k

 

For the first time in at least 16 years, the Lakers will not be traveling to Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing to compete in the Spartan Invitational. 

 

The Lakers plan on sending 41 men and 26 women to toe the line in a Laker uniform, fifteen of which (Sofia Borter, Natalie Foltz, Ella Fure, Alli Gillespie, Lydia LaMarra, Juliet Lewis, Kyla Roberts, Aden Ashworth, Jamie Chandler, Bryce Gross, Brett Magnus, Cameron Martensen, Xavier Miller, Landon Rogers and Andrew Wright) are true freshmen.

 

Many Lakers plan on returning to the cross country course after competing at the 2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Allie Arnsman and Natalie Mello headline the list for the women, the two returning scorers from the 2025 National Championship team, along with Karen Kiratu, who placed 7th on the team in Kenosha also eye a return to the course. The men are represented by two returning All-Americans, Conor Somers and Báhozhóni Church. Other racers representing the NCAA Championships field include Owen Westerkamp, Nathan Riddering and Sebastian Ramirez.

 

Other Grand Valley State athletes to look out for are Noah Selvaraj  and Flynn Pumpa, as mentioned by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in their NCAA DII Men's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll Release. Both are coming off of All-American efforts in the steeplechase in last year's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

 

Hosted by Calvin University, GVSU's cross country teams head to the Gainey Athletic Complex Saturday morning. Results and a meet recap will be posted to gvsulakers.com following the conclusion of the races.