---Zach Koehler

By Chad Hensley, NKU Sports Information

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - When the Northern Kentucky University men’s cross country team takes to the course on Saturday in the Great Lakes Regional at Edwardsville, Ill., the Norse will attempt to live up to the preseason expectations.

After finishing in the top four at the regional meet last fall and qualifying for the NCAA Division II national finals, the Norse have wanted to show the nation that they belong among the nation’s elite. They will get the chance to prove that on Saturday against a strong field.

Following a second-place finish in the Great Lakes Valley Conference meet, the NKU men’s squad has jumped two spots to third place in the Great Lakes Region as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

NKU, which has run against strong competition all season, is right where head coach Steve Kruse wants the Norse to be – in a position to qualify for the NCAA Division II national finals again.

Zach Koehler and Ryne Smith each earned All-GLVC honors at the GLVC Championships last weekend in Indianapolis, Ind. Koehler, a graduate of Ryle High School, completed the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25:27.1 - which was good enough for a fifth-place finish overall.

Smith is the first freshman in NKU history to garner All-GLVC honors. A graduate of Scott High School, Smith finished the race in ninth place with a time of 25:36.0.

Grand Valley State, Southern Indiana, Wayne State, Ashland, Saginaw Valley State, and Missouri-Rolla are among the other schools that will be battling out for the top four slots. GVSU and USI won their conference meets - the GLIAC and GLVC, respectively - and are the top two teams in the Great Lakes Region.

For the women, NKU is ranked eighth in the latest USTFCCCA poll. The Norse are coming off a fifth-place finish in the GLVC meet and have been paced by Julianne Hoekzema all season.

Hoekzema and teammate Jenna Siemer were named All-GLVC for their performances in that race. Hoekzema and Siemer finished in third and seventh, respectively.