Oct. 31, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College runners Coleman Clark and Josh Kipkoech earned the top two places in the MCCAA NJCAA Region XII Championship on Saturday, with both the men’s and women’s cross country teams finishing in second place.
The women's team's top two runners, Kaylee Scott and Audrey Meyering, finished in fourth and fifth place, both setting personal records of 19:47 with a virtual tie. 2020 All-American Meyering finished a fraction of a second behind the freshman from Grandville.
Clark, a freshman from Carson City, ran 25:56 to lead a field of 76 runners, with Kipkoech, a 2020 All-American from Kenya, just behind him in the competition at Grand Woods Park in Lansing.
The win was Clark’s third of the season, earning him MCCAA and Region XII Runner of the Year. Kipkoech was also named All-MCCAA and All-Region for the second straight year.
“The guys ran great today,” coach Garrett Lacy said. “We’re still a little banged up with illness and injury, but those who competed ran very well with many coming away with season-best performances. Coleman and Josh both dominated the race up front leading from start to finish and coming in first and second overall and breaking the 26:00 barrier for the first time this season”
Lacy said Jaydon Moleski, Christian Martinez-Ramos, and Lucas Schneider also had strong races to round out the top 5 scoring finishers.
“We’re very excited to keep working hard, and hopefully get a little healthier before our national race in two weeks in Richmond, Va.,” he said.
Moleski, a freshman from Rockford, finished in 13th place with a personal best time of 27:32 -- 19 seconds better than his previous best. He also earned All-MCCAA and All-Region honors.
Martinez-Ramos, a freshman from Kentwood, cracked the top-20, finishing with 28:02, while Schneider, a freshman from Kentwood, 28:24, and Craig Fuller, from Ludington, 28:26 finished 23rd and 24th respectively.
Both GRCC teams are ranked No. 7 in the nation in NJCAA Coaches Polls, with Lacy and Sharon Becker in their first years as head coaches.
The women's team finished in second, closely following Lansing Community College.
The Raiders' top two runners, Kaylee Scott and Audrey Meyering, finished in fourth and fifth place, both setting personal records of 19:47 with a virtual tie. 2020 All-American Meyering finished a fraction of a second behind the freshman from Grandville.
"What an awesome group of trustworthy hardworking student-athletes," Becker said. "Kaylee and Audrey ran brilliant races, setting personal bests, while Liz (Meyering) and Rose (Meyer) were just seconds away from personal bests themselves. All four finished in the top 15, earning them All-Region and All-MCCAA honors. Allison (Hoop) and Alex (Webster) also gave great efforts, finishing in 23rd and 26th place."
GRCC will now prepare for the NJCAA National Championships, planned for Nov. 13 in Richmond, Va.