The Hope College men’s cross country team recorded its first All-America performance in 43 years and the MIAA’s top team finish at the NCAA Division III Championships on Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Hope placed 29th after competing as a team at nationals for the first time since 1990.
“This was a very exciting day all around for the men and a big step forward for the Hope Men’s Cross Country program this weekend,” head coach Mark Northuis said. “Finishing ahead of their national ranking and beating the two teams that beat them at the regional championships last weekend, along with claiming their first All-American finish in 43 years. speaks volumes of how well the men raced. They approached the meet wanting to improve on their regional and conference finishes and they did.
“I am so proud of how well they did in these championship meets and throughout the season.”
Junior Ian Petrsuka (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins HS) raced to a 19th-place, 8K effort of 24.31.2 seconds at the Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course. There were 294 runners in the field.
Petruska joined Steve Underwood (1981), Stu Scholl (1975) and Sheridan Shaffer (1961) as Hope All-Americans in the sport.
Northuis said months of hard work paid off for Petruska.
“Ian put himself in position to race with the top group. This mentality started last summer by training for four months of 100 miles per week,” Northuis said. “He knew he was fit and ready to go. He improved from finishing 268th at last year’s championships to 19th this year.”
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