RALEIGH, NC/CHARLESTON, ILL. - The Grand Valley State men's and women's track and field teams kicked off their weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina at the 3-day NC State Raleigh Relays on Thursday, March 23^rd. The Lakers' men's and women's distance crew finished up day two in Raleigh on Friday, March 24^th, while the Lakers' sprints/hurdles, jumps and throws teams began day one of the EIU Big Blue Classic in Charleston, Illinois. 
 
Raleigh Relays – Final Results
EIU Big Blue Classic – Final Results
 
At the Raleigh Relays, Caleb Futter took home a fifth-place finish in the men's 3000m steeple with a new personal-best time of 8:42.20. While Natalie Graber placed 10^th in the women's 3000m steeple with a new personal-best time of 10:24.54 and Kayce Rypma 16^th with a 10:43.10. 
 
In the women's 1500m, Klaudia O'Malley finished 16^th with a time of 4:19.43 and Taryn Chapko in 28^th with a new personal-best time of 4:23.45. In addition, Chapko finished 14^th in the women's 800m with a time of 2:08.41.
 
In Charleston, Ill. the women's throws team took over the EIU Big Blue Classic placing first and second in the women's hammer throw. Judith Essemiah took home first place with a distance of 62.29m while Alaina Omondoe placed second with a throw of 52.93m. In the women's shot put, Emma Richards finished third with a distance of 14.40m and Erika Beistle placed fifth with a distance of 13.50m. 
 
The women's throws team also claimed second, third and fourth in the women's discus for the Lakers. Margaret Stevenson finished second with a distance of 49.76m, Emma Richards in third with a throw of 49.29m and Kelsi Hulit in fourth with a distance of 48.87m.
 
The men's throws team claimed four spots in the Top 5 of the men's hammer throw, sweeping the Top 3. Jacob Urban took first place with a distance of 62.43m, Shane Byrne in second with a throw of 58.79m, Matt Thomas in third with a distance of 54.60m and James Mackey JR. in fifth with a throw of 49.43m. Nathan Spitzley placed third in the men's discus with a throw of 46.94m. 
 
On the track, Melia Williams finished second in the 100m with a time of 12.46 followed by Angelica Floyd in fourth with a time of 12.71. Brooke Barkocy finished second in the 100m and 400m hurdles with a time of 14.39 (100m) and 1:05.80 (400m).
 
For the men, Jackson Blanchard took home first place in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.40 followed by Steven Harris in third with a time of 14.58. Fallou Gaye claimed a first-place finish in the 400m hurdles for the Lakers with a time of 53.20. In the 200m, Myles Rhodes placed fourth with a time of 22.06. 
 
The Lakers head to the Texas Relays, Bobcat Invitational and Spartan Invite next weekend.