Oct. 27, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Some of the fastest cross country runners in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are headed to Grand Rapids on Saturday, as Grand Rapids Community College hosts the NJCAA Region XII and MCCAA Championship meet.
The event includes representatives from the GRCC cross country teams and student-athletes from 20 other schools competing at the Gainey Athletic Complex, 1661 E Paris Ave SE, in Grand Rapids. Admission is free, and parking is $5.
“GRCC is proud to host an event that showcases the best programs in the region,” Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo said. “This is a great opportunity for people in West Michigan to see some of the top community college runners in our state and beyond.”
The women's five-kilometer race will begin at noon and the men's eight-kilometer race is set for 1:00 p.m.
Eight schools competing are ranked in the latest national poll, including Lansing Community College, has the No. 1 men’s and women’s teams in the nation. GRCC’s women’s team, coached by Sharon Becker, is ranked No. 4, and the men, coached by Rob Hyde, are ranked No. 7.
The GRCC team includes All-Ameicans Kaylee Scott, Audrey Meyering and Coleman Clark. Scott set a GRCC record at the Oct. 15 meet, and was named MCCAA Cross Country Runner of the Week in September. Mason Kolhoff earned the honor earlier this month.
Gainey is located one mile east of Calvin University’s main campus and borders East Paris Road SE and the university’s nature preserve.
The start and finish are located on the Gainey soccer fields. The course features 10-meter-wide paths cut through the Calvin property north and west of the Gainey Athletic Complex, wide sweeping turns, a long straightaway parallel to the service road, beautiful tree-lined trails, and good footing. A brief segment runs through the Gainey Baseball fields and finishes just west of the start near the soccer stadium bleachers.