April 14, 2003

Results

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State had a solid first weekend of action in the outdoor track season as they competed in three different competitions. GVSU was represented at the Sea Ray Relays at the University of Tennessee, at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, and the Laker Open in Allendale. The Lakers qualified for NCAA Nationals in nine different events, and set two school records.

Leading the way was Steph Kuhlman who hit an automatic NCAA qualifying time as she won the 800 with a time of 2:06.64 at SIU-Edwardsville. GVSU also won the 4 x 400 relay at Edwardsville as the team of Alex Baker, Ashley Thomas, Erica Helmila, and Steph Kuhlman ran 3:50.58 to qualify for nationals. Also at SIUE, Alex Baker won the 100 hurdles in 14.91 and the 4x100 relay squad finished second with a time of 48.50.

The Lakers also had a good showing at the Sea Ray Relays, which is one of the largest track and field meets in the country with many NCAA DI teams represented. Natalie Ewing ran a school-record time of 17:05.82 to finish fourth in the 5K, while Shannon Antvelink posted a time of 17:39.07, with both times good enough for an NCAA bid. Krista O'Dell qualified in the 3K and finished fifth with a time of 10:05:47. Jeannette Seckinger and Steph Sliwinski both hit the mark in the 10K with times of 37:21.47 and 37:24.08, respectively to finish fifth and sixth.

At the Laker Open Leanne Budde ran 11:10.1 in the 3K steeplechase and O'Dell posted a time of 4:39.92 in the 1500 to qualify for nationals. Kati Smith set the second school record of the day when she posted a height of 10'6" in the pole vault.

GVSU will compete at the Butler Open this Saturday, April 19, in Indianapolis.