Aquinas to host NAIA Great Lakes Challenge on Oct. 23

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Saturday, October 23 marks an important day in NAIA cross country. On that day, Riverside Park will provide the backdrop for the largest NAIA-only event in the country - the 13th annual NAIA Great Lakes Challenge hosted by Aquinas College.

The event returns as one of the marquee events on the annual NAIA Cross Country calendar. This year's competition looks to be the biggest and brightest to date. A record number of 52 NAIA institutions and 1,000 student-athletes will represent ten different NAIA conferences.

The men's race will feature 19 schools ranked in the top 25 or Receiving Votes in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll. The race is highlighted by #1 Indiana Wesleyan, #2 St. Mary (Kan.), #3 St. Francis (Ill.), #5 Taylor, and #10 Cornerstone.

The women's field will consist of nine schools ranked in the top 25 and six others, who are Receiving Votes. National powers collide as #1 St. Francis (Ill.), #3 Cornerstone, #4 Taylor, #5 St. Mary (Kan.), and #7 Aquinas will toe the line on Saturday.

The event boasts a total of four races. The Maroon Division is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. (men) and 11:00 a.m. (women). The White Division kicks off at 11:45 a.m. (men) and 12:45 p.m. (women). The top two teams in each division will garner a team award, while the top 20 in each division will receive a backpack provided by the host.

An all-you-can pasta dinner will also be held on the campus of Aquinas on Friday night to provide food and fellowship.