WOMEN'S TEAM PREVIEW:
Being at home is nice.  Being at home for the national meet with nine more entries than any other team is really nice.  That’s the case for the Grand Valley State Laker women who enter the national meet with a whopping 28 entrants (Lincoln has 19).  Last year the final computer rankings correctly picked both the men and women’s team winner.  This year the computers went with the home team.   Jerry Baltes has built a great distance program at GVSU, and in order to win they will need some big points from the distance crew.  Courtney Brewis is among the best ranked Lakers as she sits in second in the 10K.  The senior was second in the 5K indoors, and if she can match that place it will go a far way in helping the team efforts.

While the 5K, 10K, and steeple all promise to be big for Grand Valley, the field events could come in clutch. Kristen Hixson, also a senior, is currently ranked first in the pole vault.  Hixson, who no-heighted at indoor nationals, has been consistent lately with four straight meets clearing higher than 14 feet.  With two more entries in the top eight, the pole vault could greatly change the outcome of the meet for Grand Valley.

The biggest threat to the home town favorite has to be Lincoln (MO).  Not only do they have the second amount of total entries, they come in with the most top 10 performances out of any team with 15.   While Lincoln and Grand Valley have the most entries, rarely will you see a race among the teams.  Lincoln has loaded anything below 1500m.  How stacked?  They have two girls ranked in the top 8 of every event below the 1500m – including the hurdles.  Throw in some loaded relays and you have yourself a strong team.

Two dark horses to watch out for are Adams State and Johnson C. Smith.  While Johnson C. Smith only has nine entrants, if you add up their project points you get 58.  If you were wondering last year’s team winner (Academy of Art) had 59.  Adams State comes in ranked third in the computers, in large part thanks to Alicia Nelson.  The senior comes in ranked first in both the 5K (16:18) and Steeple (9:58).  They also bring a sprinter into the mix with Kayon Robinson, winner of the 400m indoors.