SAGINAW, MICH. – The Grand Valley State track and field programs swept the 2024 Indoor Track & Field GLIAC Championships, as both men's and women's teams secured the GLIAC title on Sunday, February 25^th. 

Final Results

The women's program claimed their 25^th consecutive GLIAC indoor title, making them they winningest program in GLIAC history as well as Grand Valley history. Grand Valley State recorded a team score of 250.5 points this weekend, 148.5 points ahead of second place, Saginaw Valley State. 

The men's program earned their 23^rd GLIAC indoor title since 2000, recording a team score of 279 points. The Lakers finished with 168 points ahead of second place, Saginaw Valley State.  
As a program, Grand Valley State earned 17 individual GLIAC titles out of 34 possible events. On day one the Lakers brought in six titles, while on day two they racked up 11 titles. 

Jumps Crew Takeover
The original high jumps' trio took over the men's high jump this afternoon, as they swept the Top 3. Jaivon Harrison took home his first GLIAC title as a Laker, clearing a new personal-best height of 2.23m. In addition, Harrison set a new GLIAC meet record. Jonathan Rankins-James came in second place for the Lakers, setting a new personal-best height of 2.23m. Eli Kosiba rounded out the Top 3, finishing in third place after coming just shy of 2.23m. Harrison and Rankins-James are now tied for the No. 1 ranking in Division II and tied for second in all Divisions.

On The Track
In the men's 60m hurdles, Grand Valley State swept the Top 3 once again. Freshman, Joshua Hurt led the Lakers to victory, earning himself his first GLIAC title with a time of 8.10. Steven Harris finished in second place with a time of 8.14, followed by Ethan Smith in third in a time of 8.22. 

Freshman, Catherine Guckenberger took home her first GLIAC title in the women's 400m, finishing with a new personal-best time of 56.29. Isabel Abdouch claimed second place with another personal-best time of 56.38.

On the men's side, the Lakers swept the Top 3 in the 400m. Zach Pray led the Grand Valley State men as he claimed the title with a time of 47.98. Myles Rhodes finished in second place with a time of 47.99, followed by Fallou Gaye in third place in a time of 48.88.

The mid-distance crew took over the mile on both the men's and women's side, sweeping the Top 3 for the men and claiming 1-2 for the women. Caleb Futter defended his GLIAC title this afternoon, claiming first place with a time of 4:03.29. Additionally, Futter set a new GLIAC meet record, previously set by himself last year. Patrick Lyell and Elias Bergman finished back-to-back, placing second (Lyell) with a personal-best time of 4:03.93 and third (Bergman) with a personal-best time of 4:04.97.

Klaudia O'Malley led in the women's mile, bringing home the GLIAC title with a time of 4:46.37, followed by Maria Mitchell in third in a time of 4:50.65.

Taryn Chapko and Maria Mitchell finished back-to-back in the women's 800m, earning second and third place. Chapko recorded a time of 2:10.60, while Mitchell finished in 2:11.96. Scott Spaanstra finished in second place in the men's 800m, recording a time of 1:50.74.

The Laker men continued to be dominant on the track, as they swept the Top 3 in the men's 3000m. Koby Fraaza earned his second GLIAC title of the meet, after placing first in the 5000m on Saturday and first in the 3000m on Sunday. Fraaza ran the 3000m in a new personal-best time of 8:03.17. Conor Somers finished in second place with a new personal-best time of 8:11.09, followed by Cal Yackin in third place in a time of 8:20.35.

For the women, Natalie Graber finished in first place in the 3000m, bringing home the title with a time of 9:22.20. Lauren Kiley placed second with a new personal-best time of 9:27.79, followed by Landyn Howell in fourth with a new personal-best time of 9:44.68.

The Lakers ended their time on the track with the 4x400m relays, earning first on the men's side and second for the women. The men's relay crew consisting of Steven Harris, Ben Ireland, Dominik Balenda and Myles Rhodes recorded a time of 3:14.08. The women's crew, Catherine Guckenberger, Alaina Diaz, Brianna Rhodea and Ashtyn Gluck finished in a time of 3:53.42.

The Throwers' Circle
All five Laker ladies scored for Grand Valley State, as they swept the Top 5 in the women's shot put. Erika Beistle earned first place for the Lakers throwing a distance of 14.72m, followed by Reette Thorns with a distance of 14.53m. Mackenzie Bohrer finished in third place with a distance of 14.23m, Margaret Stevenson in fourth with a throw of 13.77m and Paige Westra rounding out the Top 5 with a distance of 12.64m.

Myles Kerner finished in second place in the men's shot put, throwing a distance of 19.14m, just .02m shy of first place.

Pole Vault – The High Bar
Taylor DeHommel came out on top in the women's pole vault as she was the only athlete to make it to 4.00m. DeHommel tried for a new personal-best of 4.10m, but was just short on her last attempt.

Additional Awards
Additionally, Grand Valley State received four awards at the conclusion of the 2024 GLIAC Indoor Championships. Myles Kerner earned the GLIAC Field Athlete of the Meet, Catherine Guckenberger earned the GLIAC Freshman of the Meet, and the men's and women's coaching staff received the Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

Up Next
The Lakers take a weekend off in preparation for the NCAA Division II Nationals on March 8^th – 9^th. This years' National Championships will be held in Pittsburg, Kansas.