With the cross-country season coming to a close, the men and women’s teams headed to Spokane Wash. for the NCAA Division-II National Championships.

The women’s team finished 11th, a school best for SVSU.  Last season the team took 12th and in 2011, 11th.

For the women, junior Emily Short finished in 15th place with a time of 21:32:6.  Following Short were sophomore Taylor Stepanski, who finished 60th with a time of 22:23:8, sophomore Jessica Reeves, who finished 68th with a time of 22:29:8, and juniors Chantelle Fondren and Tori Peet who finished 79th and 82nd with times of 22:35:3 and 22:36:2, respectively.

The men’s team finished 19th with senior Gareth Gose leading the way, finishing 70th overall with a time of 33:28.  Junior Tony Peel finished 88th with a time of 33:52, followed by freshmen Joey Southgate in 97th place with a time of 34:01, and Charlend Howard in 102nd place with a time of 34:10.

For the Lady Cardinals, the season was a success, including two first-place finishes and two second-place finishes.

For the men, the 2013 season proved to be up and down, with a fifth, first and seventh-place finish followed by the National Championships.