ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State's track and field squads have been ranked as top in the nation, as announced earlier today the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Six GVSU events were named as this week's #EventSquads – a title given to the best performing team in each event.
 
The Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI) is utilized weekly by the USTFCCCA to calculate track and field rankings across the NCAA. The TFRI is a mathematical system used to rank track and field teams. In essence, it is calculated as the sum of place points and separation between finishing positions for each event. 
 
Both men's and women's squads grab the number one spot in the Midwest region for the USTFCCCA's TFRI 2025 Indoor Checkpoint #1 (Jan. 28). The men's squad earned a score 770.35, putting them nearly 500 points ahead of second-place opponent Tiffin (298.24). The women's first place score of 519.65 put them more than 150 ahead of Ashland, who garnered a score of 382.57.
 
The men stayed on top in the national rankings, as well, earning the highest scored best in Division II track and field. Based on the season qualifying bests for the Lakers, the TFRI team total equaled 229.47, putting them nearly 40 points ahead of division rival Pittsburg State (192.61). The women's team totaled a TFRI team score of 190.28 – hardly two points behind number one (you guessed it) Pittsburg State.
 
Six Grand Valley events were named #EventSquads for this week's checkpoint. According to the USTFCCCA, "#EventSquad rankings places a rank order to a program's 'squad' of athletes in a particular event, using the cumulative season-best qualifying marks from a team's top-four ranked athletes on the national descending-order list."
 
The men's squads named to the list are the 800m, pole vault, weight throw and high jump events. Two of Grand Valley's top-four athletes in the 800m occupy top 10 spots; Caleb Futter leads in fourth (1:50.25), Samuel Allen grabs the ninth spot (1:50.53). Two pole vaulters, Dolan Gonzales (7 – 5.15m/16-10.75) and Wyatt Alwine (8 – 5.11m/16-9.25), also make up the top 10 for their event. The DII top 10 weight throw rankings consist of three of the Lakers' top four: James MacKey, Jr. (5 – 20.52m/67-4), Myles Kerner (6 – 20.12m/66-0.25) and Michael Griffey (9 – 19.61m/64-4). Finally, all four of Grand Valley's top high jumpers made the cut and did so in impressive fashion. Eli Kosiba led the squad (and NCAA) with a 2.30m (7-6.25) mark. Marcus Gelpi's 2.21m (7-3) jump ranked him second and Jaivon Harrison's 2.20m (7-2.25) clearance ranked him third. Jonathan Rankins-James ranks fifth with a 2.15m (7-0.50) mark.
 
This week's women's #EventSquads are the 1 mile and shot put. In the 1 mile, Natalie Graber (5 – 4:44.07), Lauren Kiley (7 – 4:46.33) and Maria Mitchell (8 – 4:46.62) occupy three top 10 spots. Erika Beistle leads shot put for all DII women with her record-breaking 17.20m (56-5.25) throw. Mackenzie Bohrer is the other Laker to grab a high mark in shot put, ranking 11^th at 14.72m (48-3.5).