ALLENDALE, MICH. – Former Grand Valley State runners, Zach Panning and Alan Peterson both recently completed the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this past Sunday, October 9^th , where both former GVSU runners met the qualifying standards of finishing in under a time of 2:18:00 in order to be eligible for the 2024 Olympic Trials.

Panning earned himself an overall finish of eleventh place in the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:09:28, additionally placing him as the second U.S runner to cross the finish line. Peterson took home a twenty-ninth place finish overall and was the twelfth U.S runner to finish with a time of 2:15:30. 
 
Finishing the 2022 Chicago Marathon as the fourteenth fastest American ever, Panning is currently seeded fourth in the country which solidifies him as a legitimate contender to make an Olympic team. In addition, Panning's time of 2:09:28 meets the World Championship standard (2:09:40) and puts him in a position to represent the U.S at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. 
 
"2:10 has was always a barrier that I dreamed of breaking. To do it in my second marathon gave me a ton of confidence. I have always believed in what I'm doing but having success makes it that much easier to believe in. To have the World Standard is definitely motivating for me as well. It proves to me that I belong and encourages me to keep trying to get even better," stated Zach Panning.
 
Panning was apart of the 2015-2019 Grand Valley State Cross Country and Track & Field team where he won three individual National Championships in the 5,000m (2018 & 2019) and 10,000m (2019), was the 2018 NCAA DII Cross Country National Runner-Up, as well as a three-time USTFCCCA Outdoor All-American and a four-time USTFCCCA Indoor All-American. In addition, Panning was also named the USTFCCCA National Track Athlete of the Year for the 2019 outdoor season.
 
In 2019, Panning took the next step in his athletic career when he signed with Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, a professional running team located within Michigan. Founder/Coach Keith Hanson stated, "Zach is such an incredibly coachable athlete and deals with all of the things that are required in distance running which is a lot more than just the daily running…His attitude and coachability is what really sets him apart."
 
Peterson is currently in his second season as the Assistant Coach for Grand Valley State Cross Country and additionally was a Laker himself between the 2010-2014 season. Peterson was a two time All-American, GLIAC Commissioner's Award winner in 2014 & 2015 as well as won the 2013 GLIAC Outdoor Championships in the 5000m race. 
 
This marathon finish serves as Peterson's third Olympic Trials Qualifier (2016, 2022 & 2024) as a professional runner for the Nameless Track Club located in Chicago, Ill. Peterson was recently welcomed to the Nameless Track Club as an athlete and a coach earlier this month. 
 
Head Coach Jerry Baltes stated, "What an incredible performance for Zach in Chicago this past weekend. To think he is the 14th fastest American in the history of marathoning is pretty amazing. We are proud of what Zach has continued to do in the sport since moving on from GV to Hansons-Brooks team. We are looking forward to the next few years that Zach has in front of him."