March 12, 2011

Results

Albuquerque, N.M. - The #1 ranked Grand Valley State women's track and field team scored 83 points to earn the programs first NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National title on Saturday (March 12) in Albuquerque, N.M. GVSU claimed 32 points over second place Lincoln (Mo.), while Adams State (37) finished third. Grand Valley State was led by Monica Kinney as she placed first in the mile and 5,000-meter run, while Lauren Buresh finished first in the shot put. GVSU will open the 2011 outdoor season on March 25.

Kinney placed in three events for the Lakers to record 21.5 points. In the mile, she crossed the finish line with a time of 4:44.41 to earn the national title. GVSU also recorded points from senior Eileen Creutz as she placed fourth (4:59.38) and Rebecca Winchester in sixth (5:01.74). Kinney, Creutz and Winchester notched a total of 18 points in the mile to earn All-American honors.

Kinney earned her second individual title of the meet in the 5,000-meter. She notched a time of 16:28.02 to earn GVSU another 10 points. Julia Nowak and Katherine McCarthy also ran in the 5,000-meter race. Nowak crossed with a time of 17:39.76, while McCarthy finished at 18:20.96.

Chanelle Caldwell earned All-America status as she crossed the finish line second in the 800-meter run. The senior finished with a time of 2:11.30 to record eight points for Grand Valley State. The 4x400-meter relay of Caldwell, Adrienne Chandler, Lisa Galasso and Jade Hull finished ninth with a time of 3:51.93.

Buresh set a new school record and the fifth best throw all-time in division II history in the shot put. The junior recorded a distance of 52'10.25" to earn the top-spot. Teammate Sam Lockhart followed in second as she notched a distance of 51'6.50" to record eight points for GVSU. Both Buresh and Lockhart claimed All-American honors.

On Friday, Grand Valley State recorded 12 points in the weight throw, as Liz Murphy earned a third place finish with a toss of 63'1.25". Lockhart followed in fourth with a throw of 63'0", while sophomore Jamie Smith placed eighth (59'9.75"). Murphy, Lockhart and Smith all claimed All-American honors as they all recorded points for GVSU.

In the pole vault, GVSU earned 11 points and were lead by junior Jocelyn Kuksa's third place finish and followed by freshman Kristen Hixson in fourth. Kuksa and Hixson recorded a vault of 12'10.75" to earn All-American honors. The distance medley relay of Nowak, Kayla Vallar, Madie Rodts and Kinney earned Grand Valley State six points with a third place finish and a time of 11:47.40.