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Historic Moments and Notable Performances
Updated through the 2012season
- Cross country for women became an intercollegiate sport at Hope in 1981.
Over a relatively short period of time, the program has become highly
regarded at the conference, regional and national level.
- Five years into the program Hope was both conference and NCAA Great Lakes
regional champion. Over a 30 year period, the Flying Dutch have been a top-five team in the region 18 times.
- The best finish by a Hope women's cross country team at the NCAA Division
III championship was fourth place in 1993. It was an amazing accomplishment
for a team that had finished second at both the conference and regional
championships.
- The best finish by a Hope runner at the NCAA Division III women's cross
country championships was fourth place by Marcia Vandersall '93 in
1992. A year later, Alicia Mendenhall-Elmore '94 placed fifth at the national
meet.
- A trademark of the Hope cross country program is the orange and blue
school bus used to transport the teams to their practices. Hope cross country
personifies the Division III model for participation, annually attracting
in the area of 20-30 runners to the team.
- Hope College was host to the 1987 NCAA Division III national cross country
championships for men and women. The races were run over a challenging,
snow-covered course at the Holland Country Club.
- Jilanne Bannink '91 is Hope's most decorated female athlete by the MIAA.
She was All-MIAA in cross country four consecutive years and three
years in swimming.
- Jennifer Ernst '00 achieved NCAA All-America status in both cross country
and track (10,000 meters).
- The 2004 Flying Dutch won the MIAA championship, ending Calvin's 14-year
hold on first place. Hope's five runners all finished in the top
ten at the league championship meet, led by conference MVP Tina
Pike.
- The 2011 Flying Dutch won the MIAA championship to again end Calvin's string of successes as league champion.
- The 2012 Flying Dutch won the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Hope's first title in 25 years. The team went on to finish 10th at the national championship. Coach Mark Northuis was honored as the Great Lakes Regional Coach-of-the-Year.
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