SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — David Mitter has been named the Great Lakes Athletic Intercollegiate Conference Male Cross Country Athlete of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday, Sept. 24. 

It marks the first time in Mitter's collegiate career that he was named GLIAC Athlete of the Week and is the first cross country athlete from LSSU to receive GLIAC Athlete of the Week honors since Sept. 25, 2013 (Ben Dueling). 

"David continues to add himself to the Lake Superior State history books; after last year's national meet qualification he's added this honor to his list of accomplishments. David has such a great desire to improve, and it's really paid off in the past year. He continues to make the LSSU community proud!," said Cross Country Head Coach Rob Gallinger. 

Mitter, a junior from Howell, Mich., placed first overall in the Second Annual Warrior Challenge hosted by Wayne State University this past Saturday, Sept. 21. Mitter's time of 26:11.4 in the 8,000-meter distance was his fastest in the distance since Nov 3, 2018 in the GLIAC Cross Country Championships, which was the race that qualified him for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.

The mechanical engineering major was the first athlete from Lake Superior State to compete in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships since 1993, when Gary Loubert represented the Lakers at the competition. Mitter finished 121st out of 261 runners.

Earlier this season, Mitter placed second in the Northwood Cross Country Invitational with a time of 18:46.9 in the 5,000-meter distance.  

Mitter and the rest of the cross country athletes will return to competition this fall on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Fifth Annual Conference Crossover Cross Country Invitational, hosted by Lewis University.

For additional information on Laker athletics, visit lssulakers.com.

Be sure to follow the Lakers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information and behind-the-scenes action.