Final Results

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Grand Valley State track and field teams met multiple Division II qualifications and broke two school records for the second consecutive week at the GVSU Big Meet Friday.  Juniors Nicole Sreenan and Dennis Mbuta broke GVSU records in the 400 and 800m races, respectively.
 
After breaking the GVSU 400m record at the Akron Invitational last Saturday (Feb. 8), Sreenan topped her own best with a 53.80 second finish, good for first place and an automatic qualification.   GLIAC and USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week, Allie Ludge, earned a provisional qualification in the 800m race with a fourth-place finish of 2:08.63. 
 

🚨GVSU Senior Nicole Sreenan yet again broke the GVSU school record for Women's 400m dash, previously held by herself! Previous time was 54.14 seconds, now 53.80 seconds!! #⚓️⬆

— GVSU Track and Field (@GVSU_XC_TF) February 14, 2020

The GVSU women showed a strong performance in the distance events.  In the 5000m, Madison Goen (17:05.35), Stacey Metzger (17:09.54), Lynsey Amthor (17:17.72) and Lucy Karpukhno (17:19.80) all met provisional marks from the top-two heats.  Hanna Groeber (9:36.52) led the Lakers as the third finisher in the 3000m, followed by Natalie Graber (9^th; 9:45.26), Klaudia O'Malley (10^th; 9:47.93) and Jessica Gockley (11^th; 9:49.39) finishing one after the other with provisional qualifications. 
 
For the second straight week, four-time GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week, Bobbie Goodwin, defeated her competition in the weight throw with a distance of 21.21m.  Junior Erika Lechner threw for a provisional mark in the shot put with a launch of 13.98m, taking fifth place.  In the high jump, freshman Alessia Olhava claimed 6^th place with a 1.55m clear, and Elli Kimes and Kassidie Stimmel claimed the top-two spots in the pole vault from 4.03m. 
 
GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week, Dennis Mbuta, broke a GVSU record for the third time this season.  Mbuta placed second in the 800m with a time of 1:48.94, breaking the previous record of 1:49.05 set in 2014 by Ethan Barnes.  In his first meet of the season, Enael Woldemichael swept the men's 5000m competition with a finish of 14:12.32 and provisional qualification.  Ben Zaremba also earned a 5000m provisional qualification with a 14:35.10 finish.  In the 3000m run, Tanner Chada (2^nd; 8:10.95), Connor Schwartz (3^rd; 8:11.38) and Brendan Parr (12^th; 8:20.77) claimed provisional times. 
 

🚨Another GVSU record has been broken!🚨GVSU Dennis Mbuta broke the GVSU 800m run record previously held by Ethan Barnes in 2014 who had a time of 1:49.05. Mbuta ran a 1:48.94! #AnchorUp 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/2V411n8zJW

— GVSU Track and Field (@GVSU_XC_TF) February 14, 2020

The men met three provisional marks in the weight throw invite, including throws by GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week, Justin Scavarda (4^th; 19.74m), Hunter Harding (5^th; 19.45m) and Leon White (8^th; 18.29m). 
 
The Lakers finish the weekend with the GVSU Big Meet Saturday.  More than 1500 student-athletes from all corners of the country will compete in the Kelly Family Sports Center.