Calvin Cross Country Teams Continue MIAA Dominance

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The nationally-ranked Calvin men's and women's cross country
teams continued their MIAA dominance as the men captured their 15th consecutive
MIAA title while the women captured their 14th straight league crown as both
teams posted first place totals at the MIAA Championships hosted by Calvin at
the Christian Reformed Recreation Center Saturday.  The championship streak by
the Calvin men's cross country is the second longest in MIAA athletic history
while the women's championship streak is the longest in MIAA women's athletic
history.

Ranked sixth in the latest NCAA III national poll, the Calvin men's cross
country team took seven of the top nine spots including the top three to win
with a first place total of 19 points.  Hope was second with 68 points.  Calvin
senior Justin Pfruender of Midland High School cruised to a first place
individual time of 25:42 while Calvin freshman Brian Maat of Holland was second
in 25:50.  Calvin senior Joel Klooster (Chatham, ON) followed Maat in third
place with a time of 26:02, surging from fifth to third in the final half-mile. 
Seniors David Ritsema (Denver, CO) were sixth (26:34) and seventh (26:41)
respectively to round out Calvin's top-five.  In addition, sophomores Kris
Koster (Grand Rapids Christian) and Tim Avery (Rochester, NY) cracked the top-10
for the Knights as Koster was eighth in 26:47 and Avery ninth in 26:53.

"This was our best team performance of the year," said Calvin men's cross
country coach Brian Diemer who passed former Hope cross country coach Bill
VanderBilt for most MIAA Championship teams coached with 15.  "Every one of our
runners ran with heart today," said Diemer.  "Some of our guys have struggled
with finishing races strong but that was not the case today.  We're thrilled to
win the conference championship again and we're looking to use our performance
to build positive momentum for the final weeks of the season."  

Pfruender was named the MIAA men's cross country Most Valuable Runner. 
Pfruender joined teammates Dan Hoekstra and Joel Klooster to have earned MVP
accolades in the last three years as Hoekstra was the 2000 league MVP and
Klooster the 1999 MVP.  All three individuals were named to the All-MIAA 1st
team.  Also named to the All-MIAA 1st team from Calvin were Maat, Koster, Avery,
Ritsema and freshman Andy Yazzie (Rehobath, NM).  

"That's pretty unique to have three league MVP's on one team and I think that
speaks to the quality of each individual," said Calvin men's cross country coach
Brian Diemer.  "Justin had an awesome performance today and Joel and Dan were
tough too.  Joel has battled some injuries this year and Dan was sick with a bad
head cold today but both of those guys battled and persevered today."

In the women's race, the third-ranked Calvin Knights took six of the top seven
spots including the top three to post a first place score of 17 points. 
Kalamazoo was second with 54 points.  Calvin senior Erinn Boot of Kalamazoo took
first place honors with a time of 18:38 while junior Rachel Baber of Brandon,
Wisconsin was second in 18:46 and sophomore Sarah Hastings (Traverse City) third
in 18:49.  Sophomore Jessie Lair (West Bloomfield) and freshman Ashley Berner
(Littleton, CO) were next for the Knights as Lair was fifth in 19:25 and Berner
sixth in 19:26.  Senior Laura Medema (Grand Rapids Christian) and junior Tami
VerMuelen (Holland Christian) also cracked the top-10 for Calvin as Medema was
seventh in 19:28 and VerMeulen 10th in 19:40.  In addition, Calvin freshman Mimi
Speyer (Grand Rapids Christian) was 13th in 19:52.

"We really had a strong performance today," said Calvin women's cross country
coach Nancy Meyer.  "Our top three runners just fed off each other and did a
beautiful job of pack running.  Ashley Berner, Tami VerMeulen and Mimi Speyer
also stepped up big for us.  We're a little banged up with injuries right now
and we needed those three to fill some gaps and they did."

Meyer also had words of appreciation for Calvin's MIAA Championship streak. 
"It's a real honor to know that we've put together the longest women's
championship streak in MIAA history," said Meyer.  "It isn't something that we
think about too often because we focus on year-to-year but when you do think
about it, it's really an honor to have been a part of a streak like that."

 Boot was named the MIAA women's cross country Most Valuable Runner and earned
a spot on the All-MIAA 1st team.  Also earning spots on the All-MIAA 1st team
from Calvin were Baber, Hastings, Lair, Medema, Berner and Speyer.

The goal for the Calvin women's cross country team is to refocus and to regain
health.  "We've had an excellent season so far but we have to change our focus
now for the regionals and national meet," said Meyer who is the winningest
women's cross country coach in MIAA history.  "We've got two weeks until the
regional meet so we're hoping to get some of our runners healthier."

Both Calvin cross country teams will now prepare for the NCAA III Regional Meet
November 10 in Schoolcraft, Michigan at the Pineview Golf Course.