On a crisp Saturday morning at The University of Olivet-hosted MIAA Championships, the Hope College men's cross country team didn't just race. The Flying Dutchmen made history.

Ranked first in the Great Lakes Region and 17th nationally, the Flying Dutchmen approached the championship as both favorites and challengers, hungry to reclaim a crown last held generations ago. One year earlier, Hope finished heartbreakingly close, falling to Calvin by just one point.

This time, they arrived determined to flip the script. Behind a commanding performance that placed seven runners in the Top 10, Hope sealed the team championship with a remarkable 22 points, more than doubling the cushion over second-place Trine University (66 points) and well ahead of third-place Kalamazoo College (82 points).

This marks the Flying Dutchmen's first MIAA men's cross country championship in 39 years. A championship broke a streak that stretched nearly four decades and redefined the balance of power long held by Calvin University. The championship also marks the 16th in program history for the Flying Dutchmen and the first since 1986.

From the opening strides, Hope surged to the front, painting the course in Orange and Blue. Their pace was steady but insistent.

As the miles unfolded, it became clear: the Dutchmen were not running merely to contend. They were running to claim a title they've been chasing for 39 years 

"I think it's a testimony to how hard these guys worked, but also the long streak that Calvin had of 39 years in a row," said head coach Mark Northuis. "It's been a good battle. We were close several times, but we just didn't go over the top. This is the group that took it over the top. It's a great milestone for us."

At the front of the pack, sophomore Logan Begeman (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central HS) delivered a blistering and composed run, crossing in 25 minutes, 4.5 seconds to win the MIAA individual title.

"We've been looking forward to this day since last year," Begeman said. "It was awesome to be able to come out here and do what we did today."

For his performance, Begeman was named Most Valuable Runner, the first Hope athlete to earn the honor since Connor Vachon in 2022. Before that, the award last belonged to a Flying Dutchmen when Lindsey Dood claimed it across three straight seasons in 1984, 1985, and 1986.

Hope's depth behind Begeman defined the race. 

Freshman Aiden Moore (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) crossed soon after in third place at 25:09.3, forming a powerful tandem at the front. 

Not far behind, senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) charged to fifth in 25:16.4, followed by sophomore Elias Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) in sixth at 25:24.6. 

Less than a heartbeat later, senior Lucas Guidone (Chicago, Illinois / Taft) secured seventh in 25:24.9, with sophomore Cooper Jacobsen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) just steps behind at 25:29.3 for eighth.

Six runners earned All-MIAA First Team honors: Begeman, Cole, Guidone, Kretchmar, Moore, and Jacobsen.

Rounding out the top cluster, senior Jonathan Harlow (Holland, Michigan / Home School) claimed ninth in 25:29.9. Hope continued its presence on the podium with four All-MIAA Second Team selections in Harlow, junior Nile Devers (Gobles, Michigan / Gobles), freshman Elijah Forbord (Howell, Michigan / Brighton), and junior Ian Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins).

Hope next races on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional in Louisville, Kentucky at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.