Pittsburg, Kan. - Judith Essemiah is the 2022 NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field National Champion in the women's weight throw with a distance of 20.45m. Essemiah claimed the crown in her last attempt of the day beating out the second-place athlete from Minnesota State who had been leading the event after the first attempt. Essemiah's 10-points put the Laker women into first-place at the end of day one with a team score of 29 points. The Laker men are also in first with 14 points. 

Freshman Alaina Omonode made her Indoor National Championships debut throwing a personal-best distance of 19.84m finishing fourth in the weight throw. Elli Kimes placed second in the women's pole vault clearing a height of 4.15m on her second attempt, Kyla Davis from Pittsburg State claimed first with a height of 4.15m cleared on her first attempt. The women's distance medley relay completes the team's score earning four points with a fifth-place finish clocking in at 11:27.99. 

Isaac Harding led the men's team in the 5000m race finishing third with a time of 13:47.67, Tanner Chada placed sixth with a time of 13:48.20. In throws, Hunter Harding threw a personal-best distance of 20.47m in his second attempt to claim fourth-place. 

Moving on to the finals, Brandon Miller continues to break his own record running a personal-best time of 21.13 in the prelims. Miller is currently in first-place heading into tomorrow's final. Caleb Futter finished second in his heat to qualify for the men's mile final clocking in a time of 4:08.33 and sitting seventh overall. Makiyah Smallwood claimed the last spot in the men's 60m hurdles final with a time of 8.00 in the prelims. 

In the last lap of the women's mile, Klaudia O'Malley worked her way into first-place in the second heat stopping the clock at 4:48.25. O'Malley will compete in the mile finals tomorrow at 6:50 p.m. CST. Taryn Chapko finished second in her 800m preliminary heat earning her an automatic spot into the finals. Chapko stopped the clock with a season-best time of 2:09.03. 



NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships 
GVSU Day 1 - Results 

Top 3 Team Scores - Men
1. Grand Valley St. - 14 points
2. Colorado Mines - 12 points
3. Ashland - 10 points 

Top 3 Team Scores - Women 
1. Grand Valley St. - 29 points
2. Minnesota State - 28 points
3. Adams State - 16 points 

Men
Weight Throw
4. Hunter Harding - 20.47m *PR 
9. Myles Kerner - 19.37m 
60m Hurdles - Prelim
8. Makiyah Smallwood - 8.00 (Advanced to Finals)
12. Jackson Blanchard - 8.06 
200m - Prelim 
1. Brandon Miller - 21.13 *PR (Advanced to Finals)
Mile - Prelim 
7. Caleb Futter - 4:08.33 (Advanced to Finals)
800m - Prelim 
12.  Dennis Mbuta- 1:52.03
14. John Groendyk - 1:52.19
5000m 
3. Isaac Harding - 13:47.67
6.Tanner Chada - 13:48.20
Distane Medley Relay 
9. John Groendyk, Caelon Harkey, Scott Spaanstra, Caleb Futter - 9:55.40 


Women
Weight Throw
1. Judith Essemiah - 20.45m
4. Alaina Omonode - 19.84m *PR
Pole Vault
2. Elli Kimes - 4.15m 
9. Kassidie Stimmel - 3.95m *SB
10. Carly Livingston - 3.95m
800m - Prelim
4. Taryn Chapko - 2:09.03 (Advanced to Finals)
Mile - Prelim 
6. Klaudia O'Malley - 4:48.25 (Advanced to Finals)
11. Allie Ludge  - 4:50.01 
5000m 
7. Jessica Gockley - 16:18.42 *PR
13. Kayce Rypma - 16:50.67
Distance Medley Relay 
5. Hannah Becker, Cameron Cleveland, Taryn Chapko, Klaudia O'Malley - 11:27.99 


DAY Two Schedule - GVSU

2:30 Men' s Shot Put
3:30 Men's High Jump
5:00 Men's 60 Meter Hurdles 
5:05 Women's Shot Put
5:40 Men's Mile
5:50 Women's Mile
6:35 Women's 800 Meters
6:45 Men's 200 Meters
7:05 Men's 3000 Meters
7:25 Women's 3000 Meters
7:45 Men's 4x400 Meter Relay