FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- For the first time in conference history, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has released a preseason poll for men’s cross country, with Hope College and Calvin University tying for the top spot heading into the 2025 season.
The Flying Dutchmen and Knights each collected 12 points, with Hope earning four first-place votes and Calvin receiving three. Trine University followed in third place with 15 points and the final first-place vote, while Kalamazoo, Adrian, Albion, Alma, and Olivet rounded out the inaugural rankings.
T1. Hope College (12 points, 4 first-place votes)
Hope comes off a standout 2024 campaign in which it finished second at the MIAA Championships by just one point (37), then placed third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 129 points. The Flying Dutchmen capped the year with a 29th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, scoring 656 points.
The roster is bolstered by the return of two First Team All-MIAA runners. Senior Carston Cole, a three-time All-MIAA honoree, finished eighth at the league meet with a time of 24:55.3 and went on to claim All-Region honors after a 16th-place finish at the Great Lakes Regional (25:29.73). He closed the season with a 25:44.3 at the NCAA Championships. Junior Ian Petruska, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, was the conference runner-up in 24:36.2, placed 11th at regionals (25:10.65) for All-Region recognition, and earned All-America status with a 19th-place finish at the NCAA Championships (24:31.2).
Hope also returns Second Team All-MIAA talent in sophomores Logan Begeman and Elias Kretchmar. Begeman placed 11th at the MIAA meet (25:10.4), added a 26:13.77 at regionals, and posted a 27:12.2 at nationals. Kretchmar finished 14th at the league meet (25:28.7), followed by a 25:59.46 at regionals and a 26:38.1 at the NCAA Championships.
T1. Calvin University (12 points, 3 first-place votes)
Calvin continued its legendary run with a 37th-straight MIAA championship in 2024, scoring 36 points to edge Hope. The Knights then won the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 99 points before finishing 32nd at the NCAA Championships with 751 points.
Head coach Nicole Kramer, now entering her fourth season, swept postseason honors last fall as the 2024 MIAA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year and the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year. Sophomore Vaughn Meyer will headline the Knights’ lineup in 2025 after placing 26th at the conference championships (26:17.6).
3. Trine University (15 points, 1 first-place vote)
Trine took third at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 62 points and went on to place fifth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 166 points.
The Thunder return two Second Team All-MIAA runners in senior Ryan Hoopingarner and junior Blake Overmyer. Hoopingarner, a two-time All-MIAA honoree, finished ninth at the league meet (25:00.3) and earned All-Region honors with a 25th-place finish at regionals (25:38.22). Overmyer placed 16th at the MIAA meet (25:31.8) and added a 47th-place effort at regionals (26:03.56).
4. Kalamazoo College (25 points)
Kalamazoo placed fourth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 125 points and claimed 19th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 498 points.
The Hornets return a trio of sophomores who finished inside the top 25 at the league meet: Jack Schneider (22nd, 26:04.1; 26:33.38 at regionals), Carson Cook (23rd, 26:08.8; 26:26.67 at regionals), and Riley Shults (25th, 26:14.2; 26:52.32 at regionals).
5. Adrian College (31 points)
Adrian claimed fifth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 137 points and later finished 24th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 705 points.
The Bulldogs return First Team All-MIAA runner Will Houvener, a senior and two-time honoree who finished sixth at the league meet (24:48.8) and earned All-Region recognition with a 28th-place finish at regionals (25:40.08). Adrian also welcomes back sophomore Ryan Morris who completed the MIAA Championship in 33rd place (27:28.3) and senior Gavin Shelton in 34th (27:38.6).
6. Albion College (39 points)
Albion finished sixth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 182 points and 33rd at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 923 points.
The Britons’ top returning runners include junior Logan Vining, who placed 24th at the league meet after clocking in at 26:09.6, and junior Alexander Hammond, who placed 31st (27:19.8).
T7. Alma College (45 points)
Alma placed seventh at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 223 points and 39th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 1,149 points.
The Scots return seniors Nolan Woodman and Noah Murphy. Woodman earned a 42nd-place finish at the league meet with a time of 28:39.2. Muprhy was the next Alma runner to cross the finish line in placing 45th in 29:08.6.
T7. The University of Olivet (45 points)
Olivet finished eighth at the 2024 MIAA Championships with 231 points and 38th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with 1,121 points.
Top returners for the Comets include sophomore Luke Senters who placed 41st at the MIAA meet (28:29.7) and senior Braeden Jones who finished 48th (29:38.7).
Looking Ahead
The 2025 MIAA Men’s Cross Country Championships will be hosted by The University of Olivet at Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte, Michigan, on Saturday, November 1.
The NCAA Division III Regional Meet is set for Saturday, November 15, in Louisville, Kentucky, followed by the NCAA Division III Championships at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Saturday, November 22.