ALLENDALE, MICH. – Grand Valley State junior, Myles Kerner, broke the Grand Valley State school record in the men's shot put (outdoor) on Saturday, April 29^th at the GVSU Extra-Weekend Meet throwing a new personal-best distance on 19.85m. The previous school record was set by Kerner earlier this season at the Texas Relays, where he threw a distance of 19.59m. In addition, Kerner holds the school record and Kelly Family Sports Center facility record in the men's shot put (indoor) with a distance of 19.57m. 
 
Myles Kerner took home a first-place finish with the new record-breaking distance of 19.85m followed by Nathan Spitzley in fourth with a distance of 14.84m. Kerner remains in the No. 1 spot on the National List for Division II, sitting comfortably ahead of West Chester (19.34m) by over half a foot. 
 
The throws team continued their success on the field as Jacob Urban took home first-place in the men's hammer throw with a distance of 64.55m followed by Bryce Reynolds in fourth throwing a distance of 54.94m. In the women's hammer, Shelby Ulven and Alaina Omonode finished back-to-back claiming first and second with a distance of 52.75m (Ulven) and 49.52m (Omondoe). 
 
Kelsi Hulit and Maggie Stevenson placed second and third in the discus. Hulit recorded a new personal-best throw of 48.89m while Stevenson threw a distance of 48.83m. In addition, Stevenson finished first in the shot put with a new personal-best distance of 14.11m. 
 
On the track, Natalie Graber placed first in the women's 3000m steeplechase recording a new personal-best time of 10:13.41, crushing her previous best by 11 seconds. Graber now ranks third on the National List (Division II) in the 3000m steeple. Klaudia O'Malley finished first in the 1500m with a time of 4:23.01 followed by Lauren Kiley in fifth with a time of 4:27.27. Kayce Rypma earned first in the 5000m recording a new personal-best time of 16:27.55, beating her previous best by 15 seconds. Taryn Chapko placed second in the women's 800m with a time of 2:09.67.
 
For the men, Scott Spaanstra finished first for the Lakers in the men's 800m with a new personal-best time of 1:50.33, moving him up to No. 18 on the National List for Division II. Nicholas Hoffman and Patrick Lyell finished back-to-back in the men's 1500m, claiming third and fourth. Hoffman recorded a new personal-best time of 3:46.99 while Lyell finished with a new personal-best time of 3:47.28. Caleb Futter claimed first in the men's 5000m with a new personal-best time of 14:01.66. 
 
In Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Invitational both men's and women's relay squads took home second place in the 4x100m relay. The men's squad consisting of Antonio Passarelli, Jacody Sikora, Steven Harris and Myles Rhodes recorded a time of 40.63 while the women's squad consisting of Melia Williams, Kate Zang, Angelica Floyd and Brooke Barkocy finished in a time of 47.12. 
 
The men's 4x400m relay squad consisting of Steven Harris, Jackson Blanchard, Fallou Gaye and Myles Rhodes took home a first-place finish for the Lakers as they recorded a new personal-best time of 3:10.24. This squad now sits in the No.7 spot on the USTFCCCA National List in Division II. 
 
In addition, Jackson Blanchard finished first for the Lakers in the men's 400m hurdles with a time of 51.02. Myles Rhodes placed third in the 400m recording a time of 47.53 and Jacody Sikora finished fifth in the 200m in a time of 21.77. On the women's side, Kate Zang placed fifth in the women's 400m with a time of 56.31, while Melia Williams finished eighth in the 200m with a new personal-best of 25.17.
 
The Grand Valley State track and field team will take on the 2023 Outdoor GLIAC Championships next weekend beginning on Wednesday, May 3^rd - May 5^th. The GLIAC Championships will take place in Caledonia, Michigan at Davenport University.