ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State track and field team held their final meet for the month of January as they hosted the annual Bill Clinger Classic on Friday, January 26^th. Grand Valley State had an impressive day in the Kelly Family Sports Center as a multitude of Lakers found themselves shaving off times on the track, adding distance on throws and just shy of breaking school records.
Final Results
 
In The Thrower's Circle
Alaina Omonode records a 3-peat in the women's weight throw invite, as she claims her third consecutive first-place finish this season. Omonode threw for a distance of 18.63m, surpassing the Division II provisional mark of 17.00m. Shelby Ulven finished third for the Lakers, throwing a distance of 17.33m. 
 
In the women's shot put invite, Grand Valley State placed two in the Top 5. Erika Beiste in second place throwing a distance of 15.19m and Reette Thorns in fourth with a distance of 12.75m. 
 
On the men's side, Myles Kerner took home the crown in the men's shot put invite, as he threw for a distance of 19.32m, just shy of the Kelly Family Sports Center record (19.57m) held by Kerner. After this weekend, Kerner will jump to the No.4 spot on the USTFCCCA Collegiate Top 25 list and continue to claim his spot as No.1 on the USTFCCCA Division II Top 25 list. 
 
Shane Byrne had a huge day in the circle, as he hit 20.01m in the men's weight throw invite. Byrne earned first-place for the Lakers, in addition to recording a new personal-best distance and sneaking his way into the Top 5 on the USTFCCCA Division II Top 25 list as No.5. While James MacKey Jr. finished in second-place throwing a distance of 18.45m
 
On The Track
Natalie Graber dominated the track in the women's mile invite as she recorded a first-place finish, new personal-best and was just shy of the Grand Valley State record (4:39.34). Graber crossed the finish line in a time of 4:42.53, two seconds faster than her previous best and eight seconds faster than the next finisher. Graber now finds herself sitting in the No.1 spot on the USTFCCCA Division II Top 25 list. 
 
The Lakers' distance crew continues to take total control of the track this season as they cleared the Top 5 in the women's 3000m invite, with all five athletes surpassing the Division II provisional mark of 9:55.19. Lauren Kiley pulled ahead early on for the Lakers and held onto a huge lead for the remainder of the race. Kiley recorded a first-place with a new personal-best time of 9:27.88, finishing nearly 20 seconds ahead of the next competitor. 
 
Kayce Rypma came in second place with a personal-best time of 9:48.55, followed by Allie Arnsman in a time of 9:51.62, Landyn Howell with another personal-best of 9:51.98 and Sarah May rounding out the Top 5 in a time of 9:53.21. 
 
In the 800m, Sydney Nesbitt and Cameron Cleveland finished one after another, claiming third and fourth place. Nesbitt recording a time of 2:15.20 while Cleveland finished with a time of 2:15.68. 
 
The ladies' sprint crew finished with three runners in the Top 5 in the 60m dash, led by Melia Williams. Williams recorded a time of 7.81, followed by Catherine Guckenberger in third with a personal-best time of 7.85 and Brianna Rhodea in fifth with a time of 8.01.
 
Guckenberger and Isabel Adbouch finished in the Top 5 in the women's 200m dash, placing fourth and fifth for the Lakers. Guckenberger recording a new personal-best time of 25.19 and Abdouch with a new personal-best time of 25.20. 
 
For the Laker men, Koby Fraaza finished in fourth-place in the men's mile run invite. Fraaza recorded a time of 4:09.46, surpassing the Division II provisional mark. In the 3000m invite, Conor Somers and Sam Martens placed within the Top 5 for Grand Valley State. Somers claiming a third place finish with a time of 8:19.73 and Martens with a new personal-best of 8:22.75. 
 
In the men's 60m hurdles, Ethan Smith was just short of recording a new personal-best as he finished in first place for Grand Valley State. Smith finished with a time of 8.15, just .01 shy of his previous best, but surpassing the Division II provisional mark of 8.20. In the men's 200m, Nicholas Walper earned first-place while recording a new personal-best time of 21.73. 
 
Zach Pray recorded a huge new-personal best in the men's 400m as he claimed first-place at the Bill Clinger Classic. Pray crossed the line with a time of 48.09, just over a half a second faster than his previous best set last weekend of 48.64. Fallou Gaye and Myles Rhodes finished back-to-back, earning fourth (48.55) and fifth place (48.84).
 
Jumps Crew Takeover
The men's high jump squad was in full force today as they battled it out throughout the whole progression. Eli Kosiba, Jaivon Harrison and Jonathan Rankins-James all cleared the bar set at 2.16m on their first try before falling short at 2.21m. Rankins-James finished in third at 2.16m, while Kosiba and Harrison opted for a jump off at 2.21m, ending in a tie for first place. 
 
In the sand pit, the Lakers captured three Top 5 finishes in the long jump led by Luke Jelderks. Jelderks finishing with a distance of 6.93m, followed by Caleb Taylor in second with a jump of 6.61m and Will Gaston in fourth with a distance of 6.60m. 
 
On the women's side, two freshman Alaina Diaz and Kennedy Gardner finished in the Top 5 as they competed in the women's long jump. Diaz earning third place jumping a distance of 5.43m and Gardner in fifth place with a new personal-best distance of 5.11m
 
Pole Vault – The High Bar
The men's pole vault team put on a show at the Bill Clinger Classic, securing four of the Top 5 spots. Wyatt Alwine led the crew with a first-place finish, clearing a height of 5.02m on his first attempt. Colton Emeott and James Nutt tied for second in a judge's decision, both clearing a height of 4.87m on their first attempt. Max Rauch rounded out the Top 5, claiming fifth place as he cleared a height of 4.87m. 
 
On the women's side, Taylor DeHommel finished in fourth place clearing a height of 3.71m while Miranda Firari placed sixth with a height of 3.56m. 
 
Up Next
The Grand Valley State Lakers take a break from the home meet action next weekend as they travel to the Notre Dame Invite and Ashland University to compete on Friday, February 2^nd – Saturday, February 3^rd.