ALLENDALE, Mich. –  The Grand Valley State track and field program opened their 2021-22 indoor track and field season on Friday, Dec. 3 hosting the GVSU Holiday Open.  The Laker men scored 13 NCAA DII Provisional marks, while the women's team hit nine provisional marks. 
 
"This was a great start for our program," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "The highlight being Isaac Harding and Tanner Chada both besting Zach Panning's all-time mark in the 5k. 
 
Isaac Harding and Tanner Chada, broke the GVSU school record in the men's 5000m set by Zach Panning in 2019 (13:46.87). Harding finished third with a personal-best time of 13:41.78, followed by Chada in fourth clocking in at a personal-best time of 13:45.19. Both men made it well within the NCAA DII provisional time of 14:29.97. 
 
The Lakers proved strong in the field events, with Eli Kosiba finishing first in the men's high jump clearing 2.07m. Kosiba cleared the NCAA DII Provisional mark of 2.04m. He was also the only athlete to clear over 2.04m.  Myles Kerner and Matt Thomas also made the provisional mark (16.38m) in the shot put event. Kerner finished second putting 17.82m, while Thomas finished fifth with a personal-best distance of 17.55m. 
 
Kerner's success continued as he hit a second provisional mark, finishing fifth in the men's weight throw with a personal-best distance of 18.85m. Hunter Harding placed fourth with a distance of 20.08m, and Shane Byrne placed sixth with a personal-best distance of 18.72m. Harding and Byrne also made the provisional distance mark of 17.84m. 
 
"Our throwers had a great night with many life-time best," said Coach Baltes. "Our men's 4 x 400m relay was outstanding as were Jackson Blanchard and Makiyah Smallwood both running in the final 60m hurdles. This was a great way to start the season and head into finals and the Holiday break." 
 
Jackson Blanchard and Makiyah Smallwood jumped their way into the men's 60m hurdles finals and both made it within the provisional time of 8.23. Blanchard ran a personal-time of 8.03 finishing second, followed by Smallwood with a time of 8.06. The men's 4x400m relay team of Brandon Miller, Caelon Harkey, Myles Rhodes, and Jackson Blanchard finished first with a time of 3:13.70. Their combined efforts cleared the provisional time of 3:17.02. 
 
Jonathon Groendyk led the men's 800 meters finishing first with a time of 1:50.89 (NCAA DII provisional time 1:52.85). 
 
Five provisional marks were made in the women's distance events. Klaudia O'Malley, Allie Ludge, and Hannah Becker safely made it within the 9:58.36 provisional mark in the 3000m. O'Malley led the Lakers running a personal-time of 9:23.65 finishing third. Ludge was the second Laker to cross the line with a time of 9:27.95 (5^th), followed by Becker in seventh with a time of 9:35.42. Sarah May and Kayce Rypma both finished with the NCAA DII provisional time of 17:26.42 in the women's 5000m. May finished third in her heat with a time of 17:12.56, Rypma clocked in with a time of 16:54.76. 
 
In the field, Judith Essemiah won the women's weight throw event throwing a distance of 19.51m. Alaina Omonode finished fourth with a personal-best distance of 18.22m. Both women cleared the provisional mark of 17.08m. In shot put, Emma Richards finished first putting a personal-best distance of 15.16m. Mackenzie Bohrer finished fifth putting a personal-best distance of 13.72m. Both women reached the provisional distance of 13.70m. 
 
The Lakers return to track on Saturday, January 15, hosting the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open.