Ferris State Cross Country Teams Finish In Upper Third At NCAA Regional Championships

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their fall campaigns by placing in the upper third at the 2015 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships on Saturday (Nov. 7) in Evansville, Ind.

The Bulldog women placed 10th in the region with the men's squad 11th as more than 30 teams from across the region competed in the event.

In the women's competition, Ferris State finished with 269 total points. Grand Valley State claimed the regional crown (45) with Hillsdale second (63) and Lewis third (150) overall.

The Bulldogs were led by Jessica Delaney, who came in 32nd overall in a tiem fo 22:03.39 on the 8K women's course. Teammate Emily Haynes placed 39th (22:11.76) with Racheal McDonald 59th (22:31.21) and Kristie LeSage 69th (22:40.50) in the field.

FSU's Samantha Humphrey came in 75th (22:54.48) with Paige Koskinen 111th (23:29.38) and Jordan Lee 136th (24:02.34) in the field. More than 220 runners ran in the women's race.

In the men's competition, Ferris State totaled 272 points in finishing 11th. GVSU won the men's field with 43 points while host Southern Indiana was second (122) and Wisconsin-Parkside third (126).

Logan Hammer led the Bulldogs with a 25th-place performance as he clocked 31:43.29 in the 10K race. He was followed by Trevor Holowaty in 27th place (31:47.94) and Clayton Springer in 58th place (32:39.60).

FSU's Kyle Richardson came in 76th (33:04.85) followed by Hunter Nivison in 86th (33:10.26) and Chasen Benson at 116th (33:40.58). Finally, Casey Neal took 156th overall (34:34.63).

The race took place at the Angel Mounds in Evansville. It marked the second consecutive year that Southern Indiana and the Evansville Sports Corporation had teamed up to host the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships at Angel Mounds. The event also will be at Angel Mounds in 2016, while the NCAA II National Championships will be at Angel Mounds in 2017. 

The Midwest Region consists of teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Around 30 teams and more than 200 student athletes competed in each race, which included a total of 12 teams ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association Top 25 polls.

The top five men's teams and the top six women's teams from the regional dvance to the NCAA II National Championships, which are Nov. 21 in Joplin, Mo. 

The Ferris State men's and women's cross country teams were guided this fall by former Bulldog standout and local native Jared Kelsh, who is in his second season as the head coach.