Grand Rapids, MI --The Aquinas College Men’s Cross Country team will be making their 8th straight trip to the NAIA National Championships, the 10th trip out of the last 11 years, as they won their sixth straight NAIA Region VIII Championship title this past Saturday at Riverside Park. The woman's team finished the regional race in 4th place.

The #2 nationally ranked Saints used strong pack running to accumulate a winning total of 48 points. The Saints had five runners earn All-Region honors, Chris Robertz (3rd) (Rapid City, MI/Elk Rapids), Scott Assenmacher (4th) (Brighton, MI/Howell) , Chris Leikert (12th) (Grand Rapids, MI/West Catholic), Seth Bjorle (14th) (Ada, MI/Forest Hills Eastern) and Nate Straathof (15th) (Fremont, MI/Fremont).

The women’s team also enjoyed a successful day as they finished 4th behind behind #10 Indiana Tech, #5 Indiana Wesleyan and #13 Spring Arbor . Amanda Strouse (Williamston, MI/Lansing Catholic Central) led the way for the Saints running a school record 17:57 to win the individual regional title The regional victory for the Saints marks the first time ever that an Aquinas runner has garnered the honor. The win for Strouse also marks the third time this year that Strouse has finished 1st in a race. The lowest finishing position this season that Strouse has tallied was a ninth place finish in the Williamette Inviational, a nationally packed race.