Complete ResultsAllendale, Mich - Grand Valley State put on a show for the home crowd at the final home meet of the indoor season, as the track and field teams picked up eight individual and team wins, 16 provisional qualifying marks,, two automatic marks, one new school record, and a new facility record on Friday (Feb. 20) inside the Kelly Family Sports Center at the GVSU Tune-Up.
In the weight throw,
Darien Thornton set a new school record in the weight throw with a heave of 21.91 meters. His throw, also an automatic NCAA qualifier, shattered his previous record from last season by nearly one whole meter. His throw also places him second in the NCAA in the event, only .24 centimeters behind Justin Welch of Findlay for the top spot in Division II. Thornton also earned a provisional mark in the shot put, recording a throw of 15.87 meters to place third.
Tying a school record in the 60 meter hurdles on the afternoon was
Sean Wells, running the event in a time of 7.83. An automatic mark, Wells previously set the record at the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 7 at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
The Lakers claimed the women's pole vault as their best event of the meet, as GVSU placed four vaulters in the top five and eight total student-athletes hit provisional marks.
Alexandra Kitz led the group by clearing 3.96 meters, and she was led by
Jamie Roberts in second (3.86 meters),
Jennifer Schornak in fourth (3.76 meters), and
Whitney Bice (3.61 meters) in a tie for fifth. Also earning provisional marks were
Skylar Schoen,
Krista Nauseda, and
Michaila Lawcock, all vaulting 3.61 meters.
Also notching wins for Grand Valley State on the day were
Angela Ritter in the 200 meter dash (24.97),
Laura Schroeder in the weigh throw (18.01 meters),
Patrick Fisch in the mixed pole vault (4.81 meters), and the women's 4x400 meter relay 'A' team of
Jessica O'Connell,
Katie Shaheen,
Brittany Terry, and
Kylie Hicks with a time of 4:00.00.
Other Lakers hitting provisional marks on the day were
Michaela Lewis (7.70) and Ritter (7.71) in the 60 meter dash, Ritter again in the 200 meter dash,
McKenna Mattson (8.80) and
Breanna Luba (8.72) in the 60 meter hurdles, and
Mariah Mansperger (16.98 meters) and
Kaylyn Hill (16.95 meters) in the weight throw.
Grand Valley State now sets their sights on defending their titles at the 2015 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Championships, hosted by Saginaw Valley State University, will be held next Friday (Feb. 28) and Saturday (Mar. 1).
