Nov. 12, 2009

New Orleans, La. - The Grand Valley State cross country team received a few more awards to add to the collection. Sophomore Tyler Emmorey was named the Midwest Region Men's Athlete of the Year, while head coach Jerry Baltes was honored as the Midwest Region Women's Coach of the Year.

Emmorey (Cedar Springs, Mich.), who also won the GLIAC Runner of the Year by finishing first at the conference championship, took home the individual title at the Midwest Region Championship on Nov. 7. The victory by Emmorey helped the Lakers to their eighth straight regional title.

The sophomore finished the 10K course in Kenosha, Wis. last Saturday in a time of 32:22, seven seconds ahead of the field. At the GLIAC championships, Emmorey led GVSU with a first-place finish in a time of 24:38 in the 8K race.

Baltes was honored as the regional coach of the year for the women's team. He helped guide the Laker women's team to its ninth straight regional title and ninth consecutive GLIAC championship. GVSU placed all five runners in the top-10 and totaled a team score of 26 points, outdistancing second-place by 50 points. Baltes earned Coach of the Year in the GLIAC for both the men's and women's team

Both teams head to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Evansville, Ind. on Nov. 21. The women's team is ranked first in the country, while the men are ranked third in the nation.