Witt, Grand Valley advance to nationals in Evansville

Shakamak High School graduate Anthony Witt and the Grand Valley State men's cross country team continued its dominance at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships, as the Lakers finished first for the eighth straight year on Nov. 7 in Kenosha, Wisc.

GVSU placed five runners in the top-20 and had four runners finish in the top-seven, led by sophomore Tyler Emmorey, who notched the individual title with a time of 32:22.

Grand Valley State totaled 38 points in the 10K meet, finishing well ahead of Saginaw Valley State with 88 points. Southern Indiana finished third with 90, followed by Drury (138), while Bellarmine rounded out the top-five with a score of 154.

GVSU, Saginaw Valley State, and Southern Indiana all advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships on Nov. 21 at Evansville, Ind.

Emmorey, who also placed first at the GLIAC Championships, used his time of 32:22 to finish seven seconds faster than Jamie Villa Zapatero of Drury, who placed second with a time of 32:29. Sophomore Nathan Knisely finished fourth with a time of 32:32, while senior Ross Faasse placed sixth (32:40), followed by Witt in seventh (32:42). Sophomore Jeff Nordquist crossed the finish line 20th with a time of 33:46.

Although they did not score points for the Lakers, sophomore Ryan Toth was 21st with a time of 33:47 and junior Simon Nyang placed 95th with a time of 36:40.

Grand Valley State had an average time of 32:49, which was 25 seconds faster than second place Saginaw Valley State.

Witt and the Lakers will be competion at the Division II National Meet in Evansville on Saturday, Nov. 21.