Alec DeVries and Tiffany Shepherd were named the MVPs for the Mustangs’ cross country teams.

Alec DeVries and Tiffany Shepherd were named the Most Valuable Players of the Morningside College men’s and women’s cross country teams for the 2016 season.

DeVries, a junior from Merrill, Iowa, earned All-Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) honors for the third time in his career and qualified for the NAIA Cross Country National Championships after he placed fourth in the individual standings at this year’s GPAC Cross Country Championships.

Shepherd, a senior from Corning, Iowa, was named to the All-GPAC team for the third time in her career after she finished third in the individual standings at this year’s GPAC Championships to help lead Morningside to the GPAC team championship and an automatic berth in the NAIA Cross Country National Championships. Shepherd was the Mustangs’ top individual finisher at each of the team’s five regular season meets.

Tony Patton, a sophomore from Lincoln, Neb., and Payton Boer, a sophomore from Sioux Center, Iowa, received Most Improved Awards.

Jasmine Glasgo, a senior from Essex, Iowa, received the Comeback Runner of the Year award.

Sara Bauermeister, a freshman from Spencer, Iowa, received the Give Back award.