Allendale, Mich. – The Kelly Family Sports Center reached full capacity this weekend after the annual Grand Valley State Big Meet concluded on Saturday, February 10^th. The Big Meet hosted more than 100 different teams and just over 2800 athletes between both Friday and Saturday's meet. 

Final Results – Friday
Final Results – Saturday

On The Track
Day two of the Big Meet entailed the debut of the men's and women's distance medley relay teams.
Both DMR teams took no time to show their dominance on the track in Division II, as the two teams claimed first place. After running for the first time in the 2024 season, both Lakers squads now rank No. 1 on the USTFCCCA Top 25 List.

The women's DMR team consisting of Maria Mitchell, Kate Zang, Taryn Chapko and Natalie Graber ran a time of 11:23.54, 12 whole seconds ahead of the next team. The men's crew consisting of Patrick Lyell, Myles Rhodes, Scott Spaanstra and Caleb Futter recorded a time of 9:41.05.

In the men's and women's mile, all three Lakers competing recorded a new personal-best time within their respective event. Freshman, Conor Somers, finished in first place crossing the line at 4:11.35.  On the women's side, Kayce Rypma took home the first place title with a time of 4:57.42. Landyn Howell finished in seventh place for Grand Valley, in a time of 5:04.50. 

The men's sprints crew finished with three Lakers in the Top 10 while competing in the 60m hurdles, led by Ethan Smith. Smith took home the crown recording a time of 8.17, followed by Joshua Hurt in third with a time of 8.31 and Lance Riddle in ninth in a time of 8.60. In the 400m, Fallou Gaye placed second with a time of 47.93. While Zach Pray finished in fourth place with a time of 21.86 in the 200m. 

On the women's side, Catherine Guckenberger recorded a new personal-best in the 400m, finishing in fourth place with a time of 57.30. In the 60m, Melia Williams placed fifth with a time of 7.79.

Jumps Crew Takeover 
The men's jump crew claimed two spots in the Top 5, in addition to recording two new personal-bests while taking on the men's long jump. Will Gaston finished in second place, jumping a new personal-best of 6.85m. Josh Fernando rounded out the Top 5, claiming fifth place with a new personal-best jump of 6.51m. 
 
Pole Vault – The High Bar
The women's pole vault crew had three Lakers finish in the Top 10 on Saturday, led by Miranda Firari in fourth place clearing a height of 3.61m. Lily Renfrew finished in fifth place clearing a new personal-best height of 3.46m, followed by Kendyl Hahlen in seventh with a height of 3.31m

Jacob Krutsch recorded a new personal-best in the men's pole vault, clearing a height of 4.77m and finishing in fourth place for Grand Valley.

The Throwers' Circle
In the women's weight throw, Alaina Omonode and Shelby Ulven were back in the circle after competing last night (Friday) in day one of the Big Meet. Omonode and Ulven finished back-to-back, claiming first and second for the Lakers, throwing a distance of 19.67m (Omonode) and 18.46m, a new personal-best for Ulven. Natalia Pluff placed eighth, with a distance of 15.12m

Margaret Stevenson and Reette Thorns finished in second and third place in the women's shot put on Saturday. Stevenson threw a distance of 14.23m and Reette a distance of 14.00m. 
On the men's side, Myles Kerner and James MacKey Jr. claimed a 1, 2 finish in the weight throw for Grand Valley. Kerner coming out on top with a new personal-best throw and breaking the 20m mark of 20.45m, followed by MacKey Jr. with a distance of 18.89m.

Up Next
The Lakers are back in the Kelly Family Sports Center for the last time in the 2023-2023 indoor season, as they host the GVSU Tune-Up. Grand Valley State is just two weeks away from the 2024 GLIAC Championships (2/24 -2/25) in Saginaw, Michigan.