The Grand View College men's and women's cross country programs will once again look to challenge for the top spots in the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) in 2008. The Vikings finished strong last season with the men finishing in second place at the MCC Championships, while the women turned in a solid third place team finish.
The Grand View men's cross country team is hungry for a MCC conference title after finishing in second place the past two years they are looking to get back to their championship form of the 2005 season. The men's team will be lead by seniors Brandon Bond, Jon Aldrich, and Tyler Irving. Bond is a two-time MCC All-Conference performer and qualified for the NAIA National Championships last Fall and will be one of the top performers in the MCC once again this season. Aldrich had an outstanding junior season running his personal best 8k race at the NAIA Region VII championships. He will be looking to continue his success and challenge for all-conference honors during his senior campaign. Irving is coming off another solid track season and will be a leader for this year's newcomers.
Alan Paton will be the head of the sophomore class joined by Nick Newcomb and Spencer Williams. Paton had a strong freshman season and should continue to be one of the Vikings top five runners. Newcomb and Williams are coming off solid freshman track seasons and will add some depth in the middle of the pack.
Viking freshmen Jacob Carlson, Jordan Davis, Geoffrey Kigen, and Drew Messerschmidt, along with transfer Brandon Spencer will be great additions to the program and be immediate contributors to the team.
The Grand View women's cross country team is looking to make a jump to the top of the conference in 2008. Juniors Sara Hendrickson and Megan Winkelmann are the top returners from last year's squad. Hendrickson was a NAIA National qualifier in the marathon last year, while Winkelmann was the conference champion in the 1500m run on the track last spring. Senior Melissa Linde and junior Brittany Toney will be looked to for leadership and be solid contributors to the team. Transfer Chantelle McVey will add some quality experience to the program.
Freshmen Obsie Birru and McKelle Lacher headline a very talented freshman class and will make an immediate impact on the team. Birru was a four-time cross country state qualifier in high school and finished 5th at the Iowa Class 4A State Championships last Fall. Lacher also qualified for the Iowa High School Cross Country Championships last season. Rounding out the freshman class are Betsy Craig, Megan Hensley, and Marissa Miller. This trio will add depth and only continue to improve and work their way into the top of the line-up throughout the season.
The Vikings will kick off the season at the Mt. Mercy Mustang Gallop on August 30th in Cedar Rapids. Then the team will be looking forward to their annual mid-season trip to the University of Minnesota's Roy Griak Invitational at the end of September. Grand View will host the annual Viking Invitational at Ewing Park in Des Moines on October 3rd and the Vikings will also play host to the 2008 MCC Cross Country Championships on November 8th in hopes of the team and individuals moving on to the NAIA National Championships being held in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 22nd.
