HOLLAND, Mich. -- The Calvin University men's cross country squad earned the 2023 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Men's Cross Country Championship title for its 36th-consecutive season with a final score of 17.

Junior Knight Thaine Nederveld was deemed the 2023 Most Valuable Runner following his first-place finish with an 8K time of 24:05.4.  This is Nederveld's third-consecutive season earning a spot on the All-MIAA First Team.

Calvin swept the top four spots including junior Luke Witvliet in second place (24:23.3), classmate Nicholas Henz in third place (24:28.4), and senior Will Hofmann in fourth place (24:29.3).  Trine University sophomore Ryan Hoopingarner finished the 8K in fifth place with a time of 24:36.4.

Five runners became three-time All-MIAA honorees this year including Calvin's Nederveld, Henz, Hofmann, and Hope College's Gabriel DeYoung and Connor Vachon.  Flying Dutchman Carston Cole earned his second All-MIAA accolades, along with Trine's Eli Lantz and Joseph Packard.

Hope College finished the 8K in second place with a score of 56, followed by Trine in third place with a score of 60.  Kalamazoo College and Alma College round out the top five teams with scores of 158 and 159, respectively.

Most Valuable Runner

2023 Men's Cross Country All-MIAA First Team

Chris Davis, Olivet

Caleb Gaffner, Calvin

Nicholas Henz, Calvin (3)

Will Hofmann, Calvin (3)

Ryan Hoopingarner, Trine

Thaine Nederveld, Calvin (3)

Ian Petruska, Hope

Luke Witvliet, Calvin

2023 Men's Cross Country All-MIAA Second Team

Carston Cole, Hope (2)

Gabriel DeYoung, Hope (3)

Will Houvener, Adrian

Eli Lantz, Trine (2)

Joseph Packard, Trine (2)

Ryan Sarkett, Calvin

Connor Vachon, Hope (3)

Max Van Huis, Trine