The Valparaiso University men's cross country team was ranked 15^th in the Great Lakes Region as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its final 2025 rankings following last week's Regionals.
 
The Beacons are the highest-ranked Missouri Valley Conference team in the Great Lakes Region after owning the league's top team finish in last week's Regional. Junior Karson Hollander (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Crystal Lake) posted the best finish by a Valley individual in that event.
 
Both the men's and women's teams turned in their best-ever NCAA Great Lakes Regional finishes last week. The Valpo men are regionally ranked for the first time since 2019 and just the second time in program history. This marks Valpo's highest-ever end-of-season ranking.
 
The ranking completes a banner season for the program that saw Hollander earn First Team All-MVC accolades and MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. He had top-10 finishes in all five races prior to the Regional, leading the way for a team effort throughout the season. Valpo men on the current team own top-10 times in program history in the 10k thanks to two new entries at last week's Regional.