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Sept. 6, 2006
Grand Valley State's women's cross country team will begin the 2006 season on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Aquinas Open. Grand Valley State is ranked #2 in the nation and #1 in the Great Lakes Region in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Poll. GVSU is coming off its highest place finish in school history as the Lakers took second place at the NCAA National Championships. En route to their runner-up finish, Grand Valley won its fifth straight GLIAC and Great Lakes Region Championship title.
Grand Valley State has seven key runners returning from last year's squad. Junior Karlie Singleton finished fifth at the GLIAC and Great Lakes Region Championships and eighth at the National Championships, earning her all-american honors.
Senior Stacey Kandas finished fourth at the GLIAC Championships, eighth at the Great Lakes Region Championships, and 19th at the National Championships, which also earned her all-american honors.
Sophomore Laura Aderman placed sixth at the GLIAC Championships, ninth at the Great Lakes Region Championships, and 39th at the National Championships. Junior Ashley Wharton took seventh place at the GLIAC Championships and 18th at the Great Lakes Region Championships, while sophomore Kelly Gibbons finished 13th at the GLIAC Championship and 68th at nationals. Senior Stephanie Kandas placed 17th and junior Susie Rivard took 20th at the GLIAC Championships.
Other student-athletes returning to the team this season are seniors Rosanna Chapman, Sarah Jaquith, juniors Bridgette Beeny, Pam Friday, Meggie Grube, and sophomores Sam Gordon, Gabby Gutierrez, Sarah Kulczcki, and Meghan Soltis.
The key newcomers for the Laker women are redshirt freshmen Lynsey Ardingo, Marie Dwarshuis, Natalie Grabowski, and true freshmen Leah Borns, Lori Burgess, Amy Kolin, Jessica Kosters, Wendy Mahlan, Kristen Myers, and Allie Whipple.
"This is a very experienced and motivated group of women. They came very close to winning the title at the National Championships last season and they understand it will take great leadership and focus in order to be back in that same position and hopefully one spot higher come November," said head coach Jeery Baltes. "We will miss the two All-Americans in Mandi Zemba, the individual National Champion, and Adrian Chouinard who finished 23rd last year, along with Lauren Bader, who will redshirt this season. I am very confident this group has what it takes to get the job done."
"We also have a great group of incoming freshmen. This is probably the best class top to bottom," added Baltes. "We feel three of the true freshmen will be in a spot to challenge for the top seven spots and the redshirt freshmen bring a lot of potential to the group as well."
"The meet at Aquinas will be a great opportunity to see where we are at fitnesswise," said Baltes. "We have been working really hard for almost three weeks and we are excited to see how we do on Friday. We still have a lot of work to do to be where we want to be at the end of the season, but we feel with the right mental focus, work ethic, and preparation we can have that same opportunity this season."
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