Angela Ritter is working at Brookcrest Rehab and Life Center in Grandville helping others when she isn't in class or sprinting for the women's track and field team at Grand Valley.

The eight-time indoor and outdoor All-American in the various sprint events thinks she might have found her career calling, too.

"I love it," she said. "I can see myself working in geriatrics as a (physician's assistant). I've always been really close to my grandparents (Pete and Lynn Janson). I love spending time with them and all the inspiration I've received from them. I have a lot of respect for the older generation. I like hanging out with them."

The flying senior from Frankenmuth helped the Grand Valley women's team dominate in winning the GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championship for the 19th consecutive time Sunday at the Kelly Family Sports Center. She defended her GLIAC title in the 200-meter dash, finished second in the 60 and was part of the winning 1600 relay team that set a GLIAC record (3:43.38).

"She has been a huge contributor to our program at the conference level and the national level and we saw that again this weekend," Jerry Baltes, the head track and field coach said. "Beyond that, she is a great person who is highly motivated in academics, goal-oriented, balances track with academics and her social life. She has a great balance in her life and is a great leader, teammate and role model."

Ritter was a standout track athlete in high school, but wasn't sure she wanted to continue with it during college. Her first visit to Grand Valley was primarily to check out the nursing program, which was her original major.

"I got here though, met the team, loved the sprint coach at the time (Keith Roberts), was amazed how beautiful the campus was, liked the team members, the whole atmosphere," she said. "I didn't visit anywhere else after that. I just wanted to come here."

She's been sprinting in front since.

"She has been really good every single season," Baltes said. "She really hasn't had a down year. She has been successful in the 60, the 200 the 400 on our relays. She is just good every time she steps on the track."

Ritter said she felt some complacency as a junior after her breakout sophomore year in track, but that she fought through it.

"I'm concentrating on getting better and better all the time," she said. "I like to make my family and friends proud. I try to give my best effort every day. I don't want to be disappointed at the end of the day with how I performed or think I could have done a better job."

She hopes to have her senior year match her sophomore year.

"My sophomore year was a huge year for me in making friends on the team, and it was breakout year because I went to the nationals and ran four 400s in three days where I was running the best I ever had," she said. "It was – pride isn't the right word – but just this feeling of knowing that I had given all I had, and knowing that I did my best."

That her senior year is passing at a sprinter's pace hasn't hit her yet, she said.

"It won't hit me until I put on my cap and gown," she said. "It will take me to the very end to realize it is gone."

Her track success has surprised her some, too.

"I was pretty successful in high school, but I wasn't expecting to come here and be All-American multiple times. I've tried to take it as it comes and enjoy every moment. I can't imagine doing anything else right now. I love all my friends and teammates. Track takes away all the other stress of school and life. I come here and run with my friends."

After another trip to the indoor nationals and the outdoor season, Ritter will continue her studies to become a physician's assistant. She imagines she will continue to run and stay in shape, and could possibly coach. Her sister Kelsey coaches.

"I would love to give back to the sport," she said.