KENOSHA, WI - The nationally-ranked Calvin men's and women's cross
country teams opened their 1999 campaigns in strong fashion Saturday
afternoon  at the Parkside Invitational.  Ranked number-one in the first
Division III poll of the year, the Calvin women took first place for a
second consecutive year with a total of 83 points.  The Calvin men,
ranked number-two in the first Division III poll of the year, placed
third with 92 points, two points behind seventh-ranked
Wisconsin-Whitewater and 44 points back of NAIA McKendree College.

Senior Amy Mizzone (Wayne, NJ) led the Calvin women with a second place
individual finish, clocking in with a time of 18:08.  Calvin's next four
runners formed a tight pack as junior Rashel Bayes (Sparta) was 22nd
(19:03); senior Liz Kuipers (Sarnia, ON) 25th (19:07); sophomore Erinn
Boot (Kalamazoo Christian) 27th (19:10) and sophomore Lindsay Carrier
(Tri-Unity Christian) 28th (19:11).  Rounding out Calvin's finishers
were sophomore Laura Medema (Grand Rapids Christian) in 50th (19:38) and
freshman Brooke Wierenga (Caledonia) 56th (19:42).

"I was very pleased with our performance this afternoon," said Calvin
women's cross country coach Nancy Meyer.  "We were without two of our
top runners which gave some of our younger runners a chance to
contribute and they stepped up to the challenge."

On the men's side, Calvin was paced by junior Dan Hoekstra (Kalamazoo
Christian) who had a strong performance, finishing fifth in 25:25. 
Junior Paul Petersen (Crawfordsville, IN) was next for Calvin with an
11th place finish (25:44) while sophomores Joel Klooster (Chatham, ON)
and Justin Momany-Pfruender (Midland) were 14th (26:05) and 47th (26:51)
respectively.  Rounding out Calvin's finishers were freshman Mike
Richardson (Godwin Heights) in 53rd (26:59); sophomore Kevin VerBeek
(Lansing, IL) 64th (27:15) and sophomore David Ritsema (Denver, CO) 80th
(27:36).

"This was a good starting point for our season," said Calvin men's
cross country coach Brian Diemer.  "We're a little banged up right now
with injuries but I was encouraged with the way some of our younger guys
ran today to fill the spots."

Both cross country teams will be back in action next Saturday when they
compete at the MIAA jamboree hosted by Adrian at Heritage Park at 11:00
am. 
Women's Cross Country
Parkside Invitational
At Kenosha, Wisconsin

TEAM SCORES-(Top 10)-Calvin 83, UW-Parkside 120, UW-LaCrosse 128,
UW-Oshkosh 135, Luther 154, Wheaton (IL) 164, Northern Michigan 190,
Oakland 249, UW-Whitewater 256, Wayne State 270.

CALVIN FINISHERS-2. Amy Mizzone 18:08; 22. Rashel Bayes 19:03; 25. Liz
Kuipers 19:07; 27. Erin Boot 19:10; 28. Lindsay Carrier 19:11; 50. Laura
Medema 19:38; 56. Brooke Wierenga 19:42.

Men's Cross Country
Parkside Invitational
At Kenosha, Wisconsin

TEAM SCORES-(Top 10)-McKendree 48, UW-Whitewater 90, Calvin 92, Lansing
Community College 122, Oakland University 231, UW-Parkside 234,
Cedarville 234, Minnesota-Duluth 245, Wayne State 248, Indiana Wesleyan
248.

CALVIN FINISHERS-5. Dan Hoekstra 25:25; 11. Paul Petersen 25:44; 14.
Joel Klooster 26:05; 47. Justin Momany-Pfruender 26:51; 53. Mike
Richardson 26:59; 64. Kevin VerBeek 27:15; 80. David Ritsema 27:36.

-end-