Following runner-up finishes last season, Grand Valley State rebounds to knock off rival Adams State in women’s final with 59-86 victory and Wingate captures first men’s championship by edging Colorado School of Mines by 70-79 margin; Amponsah triumphs for West Texas A&M in 29:04.3 and Winona State’s Cunningham prevails in 19:30.1 

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

For as much as last year’s NCAA Division 2 Cross Country Championships will be remembered for the record-setting efforts and dominant performances, the event also created all the necessary motivation for three inspired challengers this season to command the spotlight.

And the women’s team at Grand Valley State, the men’s program at Wingate and Winona State junior Lindsay Cunningham did just that Saturday at the Division 2 final at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course in Joplin.

RESULTS | MEN'S PHOTOS by Kylie Graham | WOMEN'S PHOTOS by Kylie Graham

Following second-place finishes for all of them last year in Washington, they all triumphed in Missouri, along with an impact newcomer in Ghanaian athlete William Amponsah of West Texas A&M, who captured the men’s 10-kilometer title in 29 minutes, 4.3 seconds for the first cross country championship in program history.

Wingate had five athletes in the top 30 of the men’s final to prevail by a 70-79 margin against Colorado School of Mines, capturing the program’s first team title.

After Adams State secured its record 20th Division 2 women’s team championship last season, Grand Valley State rebounded to prevent the Grizzlies from winning a fourth consecutive crown, placing five athletes in the top 35 to earn a 59-86 victory and capture the program’s first win since 2018 and the seventh title overall.

Cunningham, runner-up last season to Adams State’s Stephanie Cotter, triumphed in the women’s 6-kilometer race in 19:30.1 to add the Division 2 cross country title to championships in indoor track and outdoor track.

West Texas A&M athlete Eleonora Curtabbi, the reigning Division 2 champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase representing Italy, placed second in 19:45.2.

Grand Valley State’s Natalie Graber took third in 19:50.3, with Klaudia O’Malley earning eighth in 20:07.6, Anastasia Tucker (20:15.1) and Lauren Kiley (20:17.7) were 14th and 15th, and freshman Allie Arnsman achieved 33rd in 20:38.3 for the Lakers, who regrouped after Adams State was victorious by a 75-126 margin last season.

Brianna Robles finished fourth in 19:58.9 for the Grizzlies, with Tristian Spence (20:21.3) and Ava O’Connor (20:25.5) securing 16th and 17th, Morgan Hykes placing 29th in 20:34.4 and Emily Schoellkopf taking 40th in 20:44.7 for Adams State, which was trying to win four in a row for the first time since capturing seven straight titles from 2003-09.

Grand Valley State and Adams State have combined to win the past 11 Division 2 women’s championships.

Colorado School of Mines, with five athletes finishing in the top 50, took third at 121 points, with Western Colorado – led by Allison Beasley placing 10th in 20:10.3 – finishing fourth at 150 points.

Cunningham and seventh-place finisher Kaylee Beyer (20:06.3) helped Winona State place fifth with 219 points.

Curtabbi and sixth-place competitor Sarah Koomson (20:00.1) contributed to West Texas A&M also finishing sixth at 258 points, just ahead of Augustana of South Dakota with 260 points.

Sioux Falls’ Khot Juac placed fifth (20:00.0) and Anna Fauske of UC Colorado Springs earned ninth in 20:09.5 in the women’s competition.

Amponsah pulled away from the field near the midway point and never relinquished control, helping West Texas A&M grab fourth with 142 points, the first podium finish in program history.

East Central, led by Aspel Kiprob securing sixth in 29:20.7, took third at 108 points, also earning the team’s first podium appearance.

Western Colorado’s Simon Kelati placed second in 29:13.2, with Colorado Christian’s Matthew Storer taking third in 29:14.5.

Hamza Chahid led Wingate by finishing fourth in 29:15.3, with Soheil Bufrizi taking 10th in 29:34.2, Ricardo Barbosa capturing 24th in 30:02.2, Cas Kopmels achieving 26th in 30:04.5 and Titouan Le Grix grabbing 29th in 30:09.9 for the Bulldogs.

Colorado School of Mines led Wingate through four scorers, but the Orediggers were unable to produce back-to-back championships for the first time in program history.

Loic Scomparin earned eighth in 29:23.9, Duncan Fuehne took 11th in 29:35.6, Logan Bocovich secured 16th in 29:49.4, Paul Knight placed 23rd in 29:58.2 and John O’Malley achieved 41st in 30:20.0 for Colorado School of Mines, which produced a 43-177 victory against Wingate last season.

Andrew Amor of New Mexico Highlands finished fifth in 29:18.0, Jan Lukas Becker from Mississippi College secured seventh in 29:22.9 and Augustana’s Ryan Hartman earned ninth in 29:32.9.

Western Colorado was fifth with 168 points, just ahead of Adams State at 169 points and Grand Valley State with 183 points.

It marked the first time since 1995 the Adams State men’s team didn’t make the podium when competing at the Division 2 final. The Grizzlies didn’t qualify for the NCAA championship meet last season.

Grand Valley State had its streak of nine consecutive podium finishes halted, the first time the Lakers placed outside the top four since 2012.