Ashland University’s Charlie Michel was named the GLIAC freshman men’s cross country runner of the year and Delainey Phelps was honored as the GLIAC freshman women’s cross country runner of the year.

Both announcements came on Saturday (Oct. 26) in Houghton, Mich., where the 2013 GLIAC cross country championships were held.

The AU men were third at the meet and the Ashland women were eighth.

For the men, defending champion Grand Valley State kept the team trophy with 21 points. Malone (92) was second. Ashland and Hillsdale tied for third. Both teams had 119 points.

The men’s field consisted of 15 teams.

Brian Baum led the men’s charge. He was the runner-up, finishing the 8K race in 25:28.6. Grand Valley State’s Brent Showerman won in 25:18.8.

Michel was fifth in 25:35.2. Of the top seven finishers, five were from GVSU.

AU’s Isaac Potes was 16th in 25:56.1.

The AU women had 189 points. Grand Valley State won the championship with 30 points. Saginaw Valley State (84) was second and Malone (113) was third. Fifteen teams competed for the championship.

Phelps had AU’s best finish. She was eighth in 22:36.2 (6K). Anna Mion was 26th in 23:30.4.

Samantha Johnson of Ferris State won the race in 21:57.1.  Ally Winchester of Grand Valley State was the runner-up in 22:09.4.