VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The Grand Valley State men's and women's track and field teams turned in a solid opening day at the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The GVSU women are fourth with 15 points, while the men are 16^th with four points.  
 
The women's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) claimed the National Championship in record setting fashion. Klaudia O'Malley, Kate Zang, Taryn Chapko and Natalie Graber crossed the finish line first in a school-record time of 11:12.47. In addition to a first-place finish this group of Lakers broke three records at the NCAA Championships: the meet record (11:15.29), facility record (11:34.86) and the DII All-Time record (11:15.29).
 
The men's DMR squad of Nicholas Hoffman, Myles Rhodes, Scott Spaanstra and Caleb Futter got the men's team on the board with a fifth-place finish, crossing the finish line in a time of 9:50.57.
 
Judith Essemiah claimed a fourth place finish in the women's weight throw with a toss of 20.05m, earning the Lakers five points.
 
On the track, Klaudia O'Malley advanced to the women's final in the after finishing first overall in the prelims with a time of 4:46.50. Taryn Chapko moved into the final of the 800m race for Grand Valley State after finishing fourth overall in the prelims and first in her heat with a time of 2:10.12. 
 
 
NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field Championships
GVSU Day 1- Results
 
Women
Weight Throw
4. Judith Essemiah (20.05)
11. Alaina Omonode (18.12)
Mile - Prelim
1. Klaudia O'Malley (4:46.50)
800m – Prelim
4. Taryn Chapko (2:10.12)
5000m
10. Lauren Kiley (16:36.44)
15. Kayce Rypma (17.02.63)
16. Sarah May (17.03.07)
DMR
1. O'Malley, Zang, Chapko, Graber (11:12.47)
 
Men
Weight Throw
13. Jacob Urban (19.14)
15. Bryce Reynolds (17.78)
Mile – Prelim
10. Elias Bergman (4:09.12)
14. Caleb Futter (4:14.21)
800m – Prelim 
13. Scott Spaanstra (1:54.47)
DMR
5. Nicholas Hoffman, Myles Rhodes, Scott Spaanstra, Caleb Futter (9:50.57)
 
Saturday, March 11^th Laker Schedule 
 
Women
Emma Richards – Women's Shot Put (2:45 p.m.)
Erika Beistle – Women's Shot Put (2:45 p.m.)
Klaudia O'Malley – Women's Mile (4:20 p.m.)
Taryn Chapko – Women's 800m (5:10 p.m.)
Natalie Graber – Women's 3000m (5:50 p.m.)
Lauren Kiley – Women's 3000m (5:50 p.m.)
Klaudia O'Malley – Women's 3000m (5:50 p.m.)
 
Men
Wyatt Alwine – Men's Pole Vault (3:55 p.m.)
Myles Kerner – Men's Shot Put (4:45 p.m.)
Matt Thomas – Men's Shot Put (4:45 p.m.)
Eli Kosiba – Men's High Jump (5:05 p.m.)
Jonathan Rankins-James – Men's High Jump (5:05 p.m.)
Ben Ireland, Jackson Blanchard, Steven Harris, Myles Rhodes – Men's 4x400 Relay (6:45 p.m.)