FERRIS TO HOST 2003 GLIAC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

FSU’s Katke Golf Course To Be Site Of Annual League Event This Saturday

The 15th annual women's championships will feature all 13 member institutions while the 33rd annual men’s event includes 12 conference schools as Northern Michigan does not field a men’s cross country program. Over 200 runners will compete in the two events.

The women’s 6,000-meter race is slated to begin at 10 a.m. (EDT) with the men’s 8,000-meter race to follow at approximately 11 a.m. (EDT). An awards ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the race, which is open to the public and free of charge. Ferris State last hosted the conference meet in 1995.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to host this event,” said eighth-year FSU head coach Jeff Kavalunas. “We have a great site which is spectator-friendly in Katke Golf Course and the competition should be outstanding.

“Our entire university from the administration to those directly involved has cooperated to make this a first-class event.”

Last season (2002), Grand Valley State captured both the men’s and women’s crowns at the 2002 GLIAC Championships (10/26), which were hosted by Wayne State University at Kensington Metropark in Milford, Mich. The Bulldogs placed eighth in both the men’s and women’s divisions in 2002.

Overall, Hillsdale leads the GLIAC with 10 championships and nine runner-up finishes in the men’s division. Saginaw Valley State has also claimed 10 championships along with two second-place performances while Ferris State has won five titles and finished second six times.

In the women's division, GVSU has won three of the last four championships and ranks second only to Hillsdale’s eight titles. The Chargers have tallied three runner-up performances while Grand Valley State has twice placed second. Northern Michigan ranks third with two women’s championships. Ferris State’s highest women’s finish was second in 1990.

“Our kids are excited about running at home and they’ve set high goals for themselves,” Kavalunas said. “We’re hoping for a great turnout and an exciting meet, which hopefully will enable us to host other big meets like this in the future.”

Among the teams to watch in the women’s division are GVSU and Northern Michigan, which are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the latest (Oct. 13) NCAA Division II Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association National Poll. Wayne State (10th) and Hillsdale (17th) are also listed in the women’s top 25 while the current men’s national rankings include league members WSU (10th), Hillsdale (11th), GVSU (12th) and Ashland (25th).

Founded in 1972, the GLIAC is one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the nation and holds championships in 20 sports throughout the year. The GLIAC’s current members include Ashland, Ferris State, Findlay, Gannon, Grand Valley State, Hillsdale, Lake Superior State, Mercyhurst, Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan, Northwood, Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State.

Katke Golf Course, a university-owned 18-hole golf course situated on the western flank of the Ferris State campus, is named after Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Katke, whose generous donation influenced campus development and the initial phase of the golf course. Katke, a friend of Ferris and a Mecosta County native, was vice president for manufacturing of the Ford Motor Company and a 1967 recipient of an honorary degree from FSU. The course serves as the home site for all Bulldog home cross country events.