The Ashland University men and women’s Cross Country team competed at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships over fall break weekend on Oct. 24 at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Mich.

Senior David Knack placed fifth individually and earned first-team All-GLIAC recognition, crossing the finish line in 24:44.0, his best time of the season by 31 seconds. Last season, Knack placed 15th for the Eagles at the GLIAC Championships.

“He came in one of the most motivated kids I’ve worked with,” said Scott. “I was very happy for him to finish fifth. Last year he finished fifteenth overall so for him to get fifth behind All-Americans is very exciting. He is in a really good place mentally and is very confident and excited for Regionals.”

As a team, the men finished in fourth place earning 131 points. The Eagles finished only a short margin behind third place Saginaw Valley State, who finished with 116 team points and second place Malone who tallied 100. 

A total of 76 points created the great distance between first and second place at the meet. 

Grand Valley State University, who has won 14 straight GLIAC titles on the men’s side, finished with a score of 24, placing first once again at the Championships.

“We haven’t had that many opportunities in the regular season to go against that type of competition,” said Scott. “It was a good experience and hopefully they are more knowledgeable about what they need to do on race day.”

Behind Knack in the 8K race were junior Aubrey Jordan who placed 26th, senior Will Cutler, who placed 31st, junior Zach Humrichouser who placed 37th and placing 44th was freshman Steven Kapes.

“On the men’s sides, they ran really well,” said Scott. “We had six season bests a the Conference Championships and it wasn’t an easy course. Now that we will bump up to 10k at the Regional Championships, that is really going to benefit us and if we have a good day we should be able get success.”

On the women’s side, the Eagles earned 159 points, placing fifth behind first place Grand Valley State University who won with 30 team points.

Marissa Sinko was AU’s top placed in the women’s 6K race placing 29th. Senior Anna Mion who placed 30th followed closely behind Sinko.  

Freshman Emily Schumaker placed 33rd, junior Jackie Genetin finished in 36th place and senior Mikaela Bush crossed the finished like in 42nd. 

“I think they ran well given their competition, we have an incredible conference,” said Scott. “They ran okay, I think we can do a lot better. It was hit or miss. Some of the girls had good days; some of the girls had average days. The exciting thing about that, is heading into the Regional Championships if everyone is feeling good anything can happen.”

Both the men and women will compete next at the Division II Midwest Regional Meet on Nov. 7 in Evansville Ind.

“In a perfect world, we qualify on both the men and women’s side,” said Scott. “It’s going to be tough, we are one of the borderline, bubble teams. On the day, if are men can pull out fourth or fifth and on the women’s side, if we have a great day we can get sixth. It’s not going to be easy, but that’s what we’ve been working for. We just have to be mentally tough and get after it on race day.”