Men's Cross Country

Hope Leads Strong MIAA Showing at NCAA Men’s Cross Country Regional

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) was strongly represented at the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Regional on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky, highlighted by Hope College’s dominant team victory and automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship.

Hope placed five runners inside the top 14 to total 53 points and secure the region’s automatic bid to next week’s national championship. Logan Begeman paced the Flying Dutchmen with an eighth-place finish in 25:12.83, followed closely by Elias Kretchmar in ninth at 25:15.43 and Carston Cole in 10th with a time of 25:20.77. Aiden Moore crossed in 12th at 25:25.70, and Jonathan Harlow rounded out the scoring pack in 14th at 25:26.68, sealing an emphatic team title performance.

Trine University finished eighth overall with 256 points. Blake Overmyer led the Thunder with a 22nd-place time of 25:42.75. Nicholas Spielman (26:01.86) placed 41st, and Ryan Hoopingarner took 45th in 26:05.05 to complete Trine’s top-three finishers.

Calvin University placed 12th with a team score of 366. The Knights were led by Ryan Sarkett, who finished 44th in 26:04.47. Vaughn Meyer added a 66th-place finish in 26:26.28, while Jonathan Koetje ran 73rd in 26:32.29.

Kalamazoo College followed closely in 13th place with 376 points. Carson Cook delivered a strong performance for the Hornets with a 27th-place finish in 25:43.28. Drew Abbott placed 69th in 26:26.93, and Jack Schneider finished 71st in 26:30.69.

Adrian College finished 23rd overall with 633 points. The Bulldogs were led by Will Houvener, who earned 26th place in 25:51.48. Chase Nyack finished 115th in 27:06.98, and Ryan Morris added a 155th-place time of 27:46.60.

The University of Olivet placed 28th with 814 points. Brenden Castillo led the Comets with a 130th-place time of 27:23.54. Deegan Bodell followed in 151st at 27:41.55, and Olivet’s third scorer Luke Senters finished 167th in 27:56.47.

Albion College finished 32nd with 946 points, highlighted by Logan Vining’s 110th-place finish in 27:03.60. Dalton Weber placed 199th in 28:48.25, and Israel Aquino placed 217th in 29:06.94.

Alma College rounded out the MIAA competitors in 33rd place with 960 points. Felix Ramirez led the Scots in 172nd at 28:04.23, followed by Nico Di Ponio in 184th at 28:22.56 and Nolan Woodman in 206th at 28:54.14.

Selections for the NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country Championship will be announced on Sunday, November 16. The national championship is scheduled for November 22 and will be hosted by Converse University, Limestone University, and OneSpartanburg, Inc. at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.