Pittsburg, Kan. - For the first time in program history, the Grand Valley State men's track and field team has won the NCAA DII National Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men won with 66 points over second place Ashland with 49 points. The Laker women placed second with a score of 51, falling just short from the first place finishing team Minnesota State with 58 points. 

"We came out and we competed in every single spot today," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "We had some things that didn't go our way, but our guys came out and competed today. Makiyah started the day giving us three points, and Futter came back in the mile to finish third overall. Our high jumpers were outstanding with Eli and Jonathan competing at a high level and claiming second and fourth. Out two veteran 3k guys, Harding and Chada added some huge points going second and third.'

"I want to give a special shout out to our freshman Brandon Miller who won the National Championships as a freshman, said Baltes. I told him he didn't need to super human to win the race, we just need him to score a couple points. Miller said back to him "I'm going to win the darn thing." 

Freshman Brandon Miller led the team to victory claiming the men's 200m National Championship trophy crossing the line first with a personal-best time of 21.02. Isaac Harding and Tanner Chada went second and third in the men's 3000m with Harding crossing the line with a time of 7:57.64, Chada worked his way up to third with a time of 8:00.15. In the men's high jump Eli Kosiba and Jonathan Rankins-James made into the final four with Kosiba claiming second with a height of 2.14m, Rankins-James placed fourth clearing 2.11m. Caleb Futter placed third in the men's mile with a time of 4:08.99. 

In the men's shot put, Myles Kerner placed fifth putting a distance of 18.223m. Matt Thomas placed 12th after his first three attempts with his best attempt reaching a distance of 17.13m. After qualifying 8th in the 60m Hurdles prelims, Makiyah Smallwood placed sixth in the finals with a time of 8.01. In the last event of the day for the Lakers, the Laker men placed sixth in the 4x400m relay crossing the line second in their heat with a time 3:12.46. 

The women's team fought hard to hold onto their lead from day one with Klaudia O'Malley finishing second in the mile with a time of 4:55.17. In the 3000m, Jessica Gockley ran a personal-best time of 9:22.37 finishing fourth. Allie Ludge was in third going in to the last two laps of the race but was tripped up and fell back to 11th crossing the line with a time of 9:36.33. Hannah Becker finished 14th with a time of 9:39.38. Emma Richards made her way in to the shot put finals finishing fourth with a distance of 15.24m. 

The Laker men now enter the outdoor season looking to claim the triple crown. So far in the 2021- 2022 year, the Laker men have won the 2021 Cross Country Championships, and the 2022 Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Laker women have placed runner-up in both the Cross Country and Indoor Track and Field Championships. 


Day Two - NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships 
Pittsburg, Kansas
March 12, 2022

Top 3 Team Results - Men
1. Grand Valley St. - 66 points
2. Ashland - 49 points 
3. Pittsburg St. - 47 points

Top 3 Team Results - Women
1. Minnesota State - 58 points 
2. Grand Valley St. - 51 points
3. Azusa Pacific - 40 points

Men
200m
1. Brandon Miller - 21.02
60m Hurdles 
6. Makiyah Smallwood - 8.01 
Mile 
3. Caleb Futter - 4:08.99
3000m 
2. Isaac Harding - 7:57.64
3. Tanner Chada - 8:00.15
4x400m
6. Caelon Harkey, Jackson Blanchard, Brandon Miller, Myles Rhodes - 3:12.46
Shot Put
5. Myles Kerner - 18.23m 
12. Matt Thomas - 17.13m 
High Jump 
2. Eli Kosiba - 2.14m 
4. Jonathan Rankins-James - 2.11m 

Women 
Mile
2. Klaudia O'Malley - 4:55.17
3000m
4. Jessica Gockley - 9:22.37
11. Allie Ludge - 9:36.33
14. Hannah Becker - 9:39.38
Shot Put 
4. Emma Richards - 15.24m