The NAIA released its list of National Qualifiers on Monday afternoon and Grand View University will be represented by three individuals at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships at the Dr. Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course on November 22nd in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Fellow senior Jon Aldrich will be making his debut at the national meet. Aldrich finished in 6th place overall at the MCC Championships earning All-Conference honors for the first time and receiving a bid to the national championships.
The Grand View women's cross country team placed 3rd at the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships at Ewing Park in Des Moines on Saturday. The team was paced by freshman Obsie Birru as she was named the MCC Harrier of the Year for her 1st place finish. Freshman McKelle Lacher was the second runner across the line for the Vikings placing 7th overall to earn MCC All-Conference honors. Sara Hendrickson (10th), Megan Winkelmann (16th), and Betsy Craig (30th) rounded out Grand View's top five.
Mount Mercy won the team race with a score 46 points and earning an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships.
The Grand View men's team placed 3rd at with Seniors Brandon Bond and Jon Aldrich leading the way for the Vikings placing 4th and 6th overall earning them both MCC All-Conference honors. Sophomore Alan Paton (17th), freshman Drew Messerschmidt (19th) and Jordan Davis (24th) rounded out the Vikings top five finishers.
The Grand View men's cross country team competed in the Yellowjacket Classic hosted by Graceland University on Saturday morning. The men placed 10th out 17 competing teams. Senior Brandon Bond once again led the way with a 17th place individual finish. He was followed in by Jon Aldrich (59th), Jordan Davis (73rd), Drew Messerschmidt (78th), and Alan Paton (88th).
Lindenwood (ranked # 16 in the NAIA) won the meet with a score of 59 points, followed by Dana with 91 points, and Central Methodist finished in 3rd place with 108 points.
The Vikings are off until Saturday, November 8th when they host the 2008 Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships at Ewing Park in Des Moines. The women's 5k race will begin at 10am followed by the men's 8k race at 10:45am.
The Grand View men's cross country team placed 4th at the Loras Invitational on Friday evening in Dubuque, IA. Senior Brandon Bond paced the team with an 8th place finish, running a season's best time of 27:03 for the 8k course. All nine of the Viking men that competed in the meet ran their fastest 8k times of the season. Jon Aldrich(25th), Jordan Davis(29th), Alan Paton(36th), and Drew Messerschmidt(44th) rounded out Grand View's top five finishers.
The host school Loras College won the meet with a score of 17pts followed by runner-up Monmouth College with a score of 55pts.
The Vikings will be back in action next Saturday, October 25th at the Graceland Invitational in Lamoni, Iowa. The women's 5k begins at 11:00am followed by the men's 8k at 11:45am.
| Grand View at | 10:30am |
| NAIA National Championships - Kenosha, Wisconsin | |
