Ferris State's Harper Earns All-GLIAC Honors As Bulldogs Race At GLIAC Championships

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's cross country teams took part in the 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships on Saturday (Nov. 8) at Seneca Hills Golf Course in Tiffin, Ohio.

The Bulldogs placed seventh in the men's team race along with eighth in the women's field. Overall, the men's squad totaled 195 points in the team scoring while the women finished with a 239 figure on the day.

Leading the way for the Bulldogs was senior Andrew Harper on the men's side, who placed 20th overall in a time of 24:48.8 to earn All-GLIAC Second Team accolades. The top ten finishers earned 2014 All-GLIAC First Team honors, while finishers 11 thru 20 were recognized on the All-GLIAC Second Team.

Behind Harper was junior Lucas Copi, who came in 30th overall in the men's 8K race in a time of 25:17.0. Sophomore Logan Hammer placed 40th (25:35.7) while freshman Hunter Nivison was 54th (26:01.8) and freshman Jake Morey placed 66th (26:14.8) in the men's field. 

Freshman Clayton Springer came in 73rd (26:30.9), sophomore Kyle Richardson placed 88th (26:45.7), freshman Chasen Benson was 89th (26:46.3) and freshman Connor Pilmore took 91st place (26:48.3) in a large field that featured nearly 130 total participants. Junior Douglas Hulbert rounded out the FSU lineup in 102nd place (27:11.4).

Grand Valley State won the men's team competition with 33 points while Malone placed second (67) and Ashland came in third (68) among 14 competing schools.

On the women's side, sophomore Samantha Humphrey led FSU with a 36th place performance (22;15.2) in the women's 6K event. Junior Ashley Hamilton was 39th (22:23.9) and junior Emily Haynes came in 40th (22:24.4) for the Bulldogs.

FSU sophomore Alyssa Cummings finished 67th (23:08.8), freshman Racheal McDonald was 80th (23:29.6), sophomore Jeanne Wilson placed 83rd (23:35.1) and junior Paige Koskinen came in 90th (23:42.7). Senior Kayla Smith took 115th place (24:43.6) and freshman Chabrielle Gollman wound up 123rd (25:10.0) in the field of nearly 140 participants.

GVSU also won the women's crown with 21 points while Hillsdale was second (61) and Wayne State third (79) of 15 schools in the women's competition.

The Bulldogs will next compete in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 22 in Evansville, Ind. The top four teams from each regional will advance to the national championships on Dec. 6 in Louisville, Ky.

Visit this link for complete GLIAC Championship Results:
http://www.gliac.org/sports/wxc/2014-15/championship/championship_central