GVSU Cross Country
Camp Staff

Nick Polk
Camp Director

Nick Polk is in his first year as the Assistant Distance Coach at Grand Valley State University. Polk is a three-time NCAA Division II All-American, national champion, and holds three school records at GVSU.  In his first season at GVSU, Nick helped guide 12 runners to All-American honors at the national cross-country championships, resulting in third place finishes for both the male and female cross-country teams.

Before returning to coach at Grand Valley State, Nick ran professionally at ZAP Fitness as well as served as a Graduate Assistant coach at John Carroll University in Ohio while working on his Masters of Nonprofit Administration. Polk also spent time working various roles at Nike and USA Track & Field. Nick is aslo a USA Track & Field Level I Certified coach."

Jerry Baltes
Camp Director

Jerry Baltes has led Grand Valley State University’s distance program to national prominence over the past decade. The women’s cross country team claimed the program’s first national championship in 2010 and has been top 3 at the national championships in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. The men’s team placed third in the 2010 and 2011 national championships and fourth in 2005 and 2007. Baltes has coached numerous national champions on the track along with guiding 38 different cross country athletes to All-American honors. In addition, Baltes mentored the 2005 women’s individual national cross country champion Mandi Zemba.