Warsaw, IN – The Grace Christian University Cross Country team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming NCCAA DII National Cross Country Championship on Friday, November 10. The Tigers had qualified for Nationals back in September with their top five average time of 23:44.
“Back in August, when we were doing an early season workout on the track and, as I was watching our runners I turned to my assistant coach and said, “I think we have something here. I think we are a really good team.” I’ve tried to express that to our runners throughout the season since then,” said Head Coach Gerry Verwey. “You saw glimpses of it, like when we immediately crushed the team qualifying standard for Nationals in our first meet and at Regionals when our runners were dominating the top 5 spots in the race, and at practices where we just so seamlessly hit our goal times. With that being said, it’s also been a season of adversity for our teams. Injuries, illnesses and family emergencies have been challenging us each step of the way but great teams are the ones that recognize what sacrifice really means.”
“Championship teams face adversity but learn how to work harder, grind, concentrate, and pull for each other,” added Coach Verwey. “The character of this team is its true legacy, not its times on the course. Our goal is to reach a podium spot on Friday but it will be up to the team as to how high they want to place in the end. This team is the closest we’ve ever had to reaching the top of the mountain at Nationals, so I ask them everyday, “Why not us?”
As the cross country team heads to Warsaw, IN for the championship, they look to wrap up their season on a high note by placing in the top 4 at Nationals. Best of luck, Tigers!
