ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State track and field program kicked off the New Year on Saturday, January 13^th as they hosted the annual Bob Eubanks Open. Both the men's and women's squad continue to remain dominant on the track and the field early in the season. 
  
The lady Lakers took over the track at the Bob Eubanks Open, as they claimed 19 Top 5 finishes on the day. The women's sprints squad dominated the 60m dash and 200m dash as they placed 1- 4 within both events. Melia Williams took home first in the 60m dash with a new personal-best time of 7.78, followed by Taylor Kyle with a time of 7.81, Catherine Guckenberger recording a time of 7.93, and Isabel Abdouch in a time of 7.93. In the 200m, Guckenberger claimed a first-place victory in a time of 25.35, followed by Alaina Diaz (25.36), Melia Williams (25.40), and Isabel Abdouch (26.05). 
 
The women's distance crew remains in control of the track, claiming the Top 6 spots in the women's 600m, in addition to overtaking the Top 10 in the women's mile. Taryn Chapko recorded a new personal-best in the 600m with a time of 1:33.12 as she claimed first-place for the Lakers. Maria Mitchell finished second with a time of 1:35.24, followed by Hannah Bodine in a time of 1:37.35, Cameron Cleveland with a time of 1:37.60, Brook Berridge recording a time of 1:38.45, and Sydney Nesbitt in a time of 1:38.81. 
 
In the women's mile, Lauren Kiley took home first-place with a time of 4:51.74. Kayce Rypma finished second in a time of 4:58.59, followed by Sarah May in third with a time of 5:03.56, Landyn Howell in fifth in a time of 5:05.57, and Maggie O'Malley in seventh with a time of 5:08.31.
 
In addition, the Laker men ended their day at the Bob Eubanks Open claiming 18 Top 5 finishes on the track. The men's sprints squad took over the 60m dash, as they claimed seven out of eight spots in the men's 60m final. Myles Rhodes was crowned victorious for the Lakers in the 60m dash, recording a time of 6.89. Max Darling finished second with a time of 6.92, Zack Pray in third with a time of 7.03, Antonio Passarelli in fourth in a time of 7.04 and Henry Kennedy in fifth with a time of 7.09. In the 200m, Rhodes claimed victorious for the second time at the Bob Eubanks Open with a time of 21.61 followed by Pray with a time of 21.66 and Dominik Balenda in third with a time of 22.08. 
 
Fallou Gaye and Scott Spaanstra finished back-to-back in the men's 600m, claiming first and second place for the Lakers. Gaye claiming first-place with a new-personal best time of 1:20.16 and Spaanstra with a new-personal best time of 1:20.48. 
 
In the field, the men's jump crew took over the high jump and the long jump as they claimed first-place in both events. Javion Harrison and Caleb Taylor finished back-to-back in the men's high jump, Harrison clearing a height of 2.14m and Taylor a height of 1.93m. In the long jump, Josh Fernando placed first with a distance of 6.31m. 
 
The throws crew, claimed 1-3 in the men's weight throw led by Myles Kerner. Kerner threw a new personal-best distance of 19.97m, followed by Shane Byrne with a personal-best of 19.23m and James MacKey Jr. with a distance of 18.09m. 
 
On the women's side, Joslyn Bentz set a huge personal-best in the women's high jump as she cleared a height of 1.62m and took home first place. Sydney Cangilla, Abby DenOuden and Ashley Atikis finished 3-5, all clearing a height of 1.54m. 
 
In the throwing circle, the women's squad dominated the Top 5 in the women's shot put as they claimed 1-5. Mackenzie Bohrer threw a new-personal best of 14.84m, claiming first-place for the Lakers. Erika Beistle finished in second with a distance of 14.75m, Paige Westra in third throwing for 14.68m, Margaret Stevenson in fourth with a distance of 13.63m, and Reette Thorns in fifth throwing for 13.11m. 
 
Alaina Omonode and Shelby Ulven finished back-to-back in the women's weight throw. Omonode claiming first-place with a distance of 18.18m and Ulven in second with a distance of 17.61m. 
 
The Lakers are back in action at the Kelly Family Sports Center on Saturday, January 20^th starting at 2:00 p.m.