Calvin Sweeps Great Lakes Pre-Regional Invitational
Courtesy of Jeff Febus, Calvin Sports Information

October 13, 2007

KENTWOOD -- Home course advantage has been an advantage thus far this season for the nationally-ranked Calvin men's and women's cross country teams. For the second time this year, both Calvin teams took first place on their home course with the top-ranked Calvin men posting a winning score of 29 points and the second-ranked Calvin women a winning score of 31 points at Saturday's Great Lakes Pre-Regional Invitational held at Calvin's Gainey Athletic Complex. The University of Windsor took second in the men's race with 45 points while DePauw University took second in the women's race with 50 points.

Men's Results
Women's Results

Both Calvin teams also took first place at their own Calvin Invitational back on September 15. Saturday's pre-regional invitational was part of a prelude to the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional which Calvin will host November 10.

In the men's race Saturday, Calvin took six of the top 11 spots led by junior Jed Christiansen who took first place with a time of 24:33, holding off a late surge by Dave Weston from the University of Windsor who was second in 24:36. Just 29 seconds seperated Calvin's next six runners as senior Tad Hulst was fifth (24:56), senior Jon Gries sixth (25:01), junior Erik VanKampen 8th (25:13, junior Nate DeHaan ninth (25:15) and senior Dan VandenAkker 11th (25:25). Rounding out Calvin's top seven was sophomore George Visser in 25th place with a time of 25:57.

Ranked third in the most recent Great Lakes Regional poll, Mount Union took third in Saturday's race with a score of 95 points. Mount Union placed three runners in the top 20 with Gary Bowman taking 13th (25:29), Kyle Basista 14th (25:32) and Dustin Ford 18th (25:35).

In the women's race, Calvin placed five runners in the top 10 to finish 19 points ahead of DePauw, ranked third in the Great Lakes Region. Senior Christina Overbeck led Calvin with a second place time of 21:33. Only 11 seconds seperated Calvin's next four finishers with junior Lauren Bergstrom placing fourth 22:08, junior Jesi Hale sixth (22:10), junior Calah Schlabach ninth (22:17) and senior Lynn Marsh 10th (22:19). Calvin also received strong performances from sophomores Elizabeth Smit, Mary Tolsma and Jessica Koster with Smit finishing 21st (22:59), Tolsma 24th (23:09) and Koster 26th (23:10).

DePauw put five runners in the top 10 with Lauren Reich taking third (21:57), Taylor Penrod taking fifth (22:09), Alison Case 13th (22:24), Leigh Seigel 14th (22:24) and LAura Ardington 15th (22:25),

Anderson senior Gwen Kemple won Saturay's race with an impressive time of 21:12. Kemple grabbed first place in the opening mile and continued to widen her lead throughout the race. Kemple's final margin of victory was 19 seconds.

Men's Results
Women's Results