ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State Lakers will have four alums competing at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon on Saturday, February 3^rd in Orlando, Florida. The trials will determine the three men and three women who will represent the United States in the marathon at the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris, France. 
 
The Laker alums' crew competing at the trials will consist of Zach Panning, Alan Peterson, Noah Steffen and Hannah Becker. Head coach, Jerry Baltes stated, "We are proud of our 4 alums that continue to have the passion and dedication to train at a high level and achieve incredible results in the sport. We are excited to see all four of their results this weekend." 
 
Panning was apart of the 2015-2019 Grand Valley State Cross Country and Track & Field team, where he earned three individual National Championship titles. During the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Panning claimed two individual titles in the 5,000m (14:10.58) and 10,000m (30:12.30) becoming the fifth athlete in Division II history to win both events during the same meet. At 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Panning earned his first individual title in the men's 5,000m with a time of 14:00.69. Recently, Panning finished in 13^th place at the 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon in Budapest, Hungary recording a time of 2:11.21. This will be Panning's first Olympic Trial marathon, after qualifying at the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
 
Peterson is currently in his third season as the assistant coach for Grand Valley State Cross Country and Track, and additionally was a Laker himself between the 2010-2014 season. Peterson was a two time All-American, GLIAC Commissioner's Award winner in 2014 & 2015 as well as won the 2013 GLIAC Outdoor Championships in the 5000m race. This will be Peterson's third Olympic Trial marathon (2016, 2020, 2024), after he qualified at the 2023 McKirdy Micro Marathon in October. Peterson finished fifth overall, breaking his previous PB time by 15 seconds, setting a time of 2:14.31.
 
Steffen competed for Grand Valley State in 2017-2022, where he earned USTFCCCA All-American honors and USTFCCCA All-Region honors during his 2019 cross country season. Steffen qualified for the 2024 Olympic Trials in his second-ever marathon, where he placed second overall with a new personal-best time of 2:16.59, 11 minutes faster than his previous best, at the 2023 Bayshore Marathon.
 
Becker competed on the Grand Valley State cross country team in 2019–2021, where she captured an individual National Championship title at the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. In addition, Becker was named the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year in 2021. The 2024 Olympic Trials will be Becker's first trials qualification, after she qualified at the 2023 Bayshore Marathon with a time of 2:36.58.