The Hope College women's cross country team looks to continue its run as one of the top women’s cross country programs in the country during the 2014 season.

The Hope College women's cross country team looks to continue its run as one of the top women’s cross country programs in the country during the 2014 season.

The Flying Dutch were ranked 18th in the preseason USTFCCCA poll and third in the Great Lakes Region.

Coach Mark Northuis’ 2014 roster of 31 runners features seven seniors, four juniors, 11 sophomores and nine freshmen.

Hope opens the 2014 season by hosting the 49th annual Vanderbilt Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Ridge Point Church. It is the Flying Dutch’s only home meet of the season.

Senior co-captains are Katherine Hauge of Blaine, Minnesota (Minnehaha Academy) and Emily Wrozek of Clarklake, Michigan (Hanover-Horton HS).

Hope owns a long history of competitiveness in the MIAA under Northuis, who is entering his 26th season. The Flying Dutch have advanced to nationals seven times while he has been head coach, including the past four consecutive seasons. They also have placed in the top 10 at regionals 22 times and the past six seasons in a row. They also have finished third or higher in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association each of his 25 seasons.

In 2013, Hope matched its second-highest team finish at the NCAA Division III Championships with a ninth-place effort, placed third at the Great Lakes Regional championships and finished runner-up in the MIAA. The Flying Dutch also had the MIAA’s Most Valuable Runner in the now graduated Sheri McCormack, who placed 17th at nationals.

Two runners who earned All-MIAA recognition last season return for the Flying Dutch. Junior Casey Campbell of Swartz Creek, Michigan (Swartz Creek HS), claimed first-team honors, while sophomore Erin Herrmann of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS), made the second team.

Campbell and Herrmann both scored at nationals, while Campbell was chosen Most Improved Runner by her teammates. Junior Julia Stock of Spring Lake, Michigan (Grand Haven HS) also ran at nationals.

Junior Michelle Kerr of Dearborn, Michigan (Divine Child HS), also is back for the Flying Dutch. She was selected a NCAA Elite 89 recipient at last season’s national championships.

Also, in 2013, the Flying Dutch were selected a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III 2013 Scholar Team of the Year for a nation-leading 24th consecutive time. Teams must have a GPA 3.1 or higher to qualify for the award. Hope was one of 215 Division III team recognized. Individually, four Hope runners were named Individual Scholars with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and a finish in the top 25 percent at their regional meet: Herrmann, McCormack and the graduated Meredith Busman and Camilla Borst.