ROCHESTER, MICH. – The Grand Valley State men's and women's track and field team finish off the Golden Grizzlies Invitational in Rochester, Mich. earning a total of 17 Top 5 finishes on the day. The Laker men dominated the track this weekend at the Golden Grizzlies Invitational, as they placed first and second within three out of six events.
 
Fallou Gaye and Myles Rhodes finished back-to-back in the men's 400m, placing first (Gaye) and second (Rhodes). Gaye recorded a new personal-best time of 47.66 surpassing the Division II provisional mark of 47.83, while Rhodes clocked in with a time of 47.95.
 
In the hurdles, Jackson Blanchard placed first in the 400m hurdles with a time of 52.09, while Steven Harris finished second in the 110m hurdles in a time of 14.66. Both Blanchard and Harris hit the Division II provisional mark in their respective events. 
 
In the field, Shane Byrne led the men's weight throw team as he took home first place within the men's hammer throw, throwing a distance of 58.70m. Nathan Spitzley finished third in the discus throw with a distance of 48.21m.  In jumps, Luke Jelderks placed second in the men's long jump reaching a distance of 7.03m and Harold Gee finished fourth in the triple jump with a new personal-best distance of 13.32m. 
 
The men's pole vault squad finished with five athletes in the Top 10, led by James Nutt who placed first for the Lakers clearing a height of 4.70m. Jacob Krutsch placed third with a height of 4.55m, Max Rauch in sixth with a height of 4.40m, Camryn Battjes in seventh clearing a height of 4.40m and Logan Clark in ninth with a height of 4.25m.
 
On the women's side, Shelby Ulven and Alaina Omonode finished back-to-back in the hammer throw for the Lakers, earning first (Ulven) and second (Omonode). Ulven recorded a new-personal best throw of 53.29m and Omonode with a distance of 52.46m. 
 
Taylor DeHommel and Kassidie Stimmel tied for second in the women's pole vault clearing a height of 3. 65m. In the women's high jump, Alessia Olhava placed fourth clearing a height of 1.55m and Sydney Cangilla finished eighth in a judges' decision clearing a height of 1.55m. 
 
On the track, the women's relay squad consisting of Angelica Floyd, Melia Williams, Timia Robinson and Brooke Barkocy placed third in the 4x100m relays with a time of 48.19. In addition, Barkocy finished fourth in the 100m hurdles recording a time of 14.90. Ashtyn Gluck and Cameron Cleveland earned sixth in their respective events, Gluck in the 400m with a new personal-best time of 1:00.07 and Cleveland in the 800m with a time of 2:16.56. 
 
The Lakers compete in California starting on Thursday, April 13^th at Mt. SAC Relays, Pacific Coast Intercollegiate and the Beach Invitational. In addition, the Lakers will also head to Indiana to take on the Gibson Invitational.