ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State's track and field squad opened the 2025-26 campaign at today's GVSU Holiday Open. In true Laker fashion, 33 NCAA Division II provisional standards were met, nine top-10 records were added to the GVSU record book and countless collegiate personal-bests were recorded.
 
FINAL RESULTS
 
Field Events
Shelby Ulven and Emily Stinson started the day off in the women's weight throw invite flight. On her fourth attempt, Ulven threw for a personal-best 19.57m (64-2.50) to solidify her number seven position in GVSU's top-10 record book. Stinson recorded a personal-best throw of 17.96m (58-11.25) on her fifth attempt, exceeding the NCAA DII provisional mark.
 
All five women in the open flights notched personal-bests, too. Redshirt-freshman Hasely Schulz led the women with a 17.52m (57-5.75) throw, Sophia Snellenberger threw for 16.47m (54-0.50), Sofiabella Amirante notched a 16.17m (53-0.75) PR and Avery Lahti threw for 15.95m (52-4).
 
Sebastian Tesch started strong in the men's weight throw invite; on his very first attempt in Laker uniform, the Northwood transfer threw for a personal-best 21.00m (68-10.75). The throw also granted him the number two spot in the record books. A PR for teammate Lucas Leshrer came on his third throw, throwing for 19.96m (65-6) – more than two meters further than his previous best. Both men exceeded the NCAA DII provisional mark in the event, making them eligible for national competition in March.
 
Men's shot put featured just a few Lakers. Andrew Berryhill ranked fifth in the invite flight with a mark of 16.15m (53-0). In the open event, Garrett Weeden notched a personal-best of his own in men's shot put with a mark of 15.78m (51-9.25), ranking second.
 
Erika Beistle led the way in the women's shot put invite flight with a mark of 16.45m (53-11.75). Paige Westra and Avery Lahti followed, both with a pair of personal-best throws. Westra threw for 14.73m (48-4) in her first season back from injury and Lahti notched a PR of 14.19m (46-6.75) in her first season in Laker uniform.
 
The women were the first to compete in pole vault, followed by men's competitors. Brooke Bowers led the competition with a 4.17m (13-8.25) mark. Ava Collier finished seventh of 18, clearing a height of 3.42m (11-2.5).
 
The Laker men claimed the top four spots in pole vault. Dolan Gonzales led the way with a 5.10m (16-8.75) mark. Sam Paeth tied the mark in his first collegiate outing but placed second on the countback. Brock Bryant, another true freshman, cleared 4.95m (16-2.75) to exceed the NCAA DII provisional mark and rank third in the event. Camryn Battjes finished just behind Bryant with a mark of 4.80m (15-09).
 
Nearly every Laker in Steve Jones's high jump squad met the NCAA DII provisional mark in the event. Andrew Kraft led the men with a personal-best 2.10m (6-10.75) mark while Ben Rodenbaugh and Braden Prielipp both cleared 2.06m (6-9). Alexis Weber led the way in the women's event, clearing 1.74m (5-8.5). Kaylee Diamond was the next Laker lady in line, recoding a mark of 1.71m (5-7.25) to rank second overall. Imogene Brumbaugh was the last Laker to meet the provisional mark in the event; she recorded a personal-best 1.67m (5-5.75), ranking fifth overall.
 
Long jump saw 14 Lakers, eight women and and six men, compete. Luke Jelderks and Dylan Lafontsee led the way for GVSU, tying for second with a mark of 7.16m (23-6). Alec Crum and Peter Van Hulle were the only two to PR on the men's side; Crum tied his 6.86m (22-6.25) mark and Van Hulle recorded a personal-best mark of 6.42m (21-0.75). Nyla Reed was the only woman from GVSU to notch a personal-best, tying her previous indoor-best of 5.59m (18-4.25).
 
Four men triple jumped for GV. Alec Crum led the squad with a personal-best 14.05m (46-1.25) that landed him the number nine spot in program history, just behind teammate Nolyn Johnson III who recorded a 14.02m (46-0) mark at the Open.
 
Sprints/Hurdles
Four Lakers advanced from the preliminary 60m hurdles to the finals. Joshua Hurt led the way for the Laker men in the finals, placing third and meeting an NCAA DII provisional mark with a finish at 8.01. Dominic Downes crossed the finish line next at 8.27, followed by Aydan McCarey at 8.33. Destini Dorkins was the only Laker lady to advance; she placed fifth with a finish at 8.98.
 
The 60m finals also saw four Lakers compete. Sam Coyle placed fourth in the men's race with a personal-best finish at 6.87, moving him to number nine (tied) all-time in GVSU's record book alongside former Laker Max Darling. Sean Blaser finished eighth in the finals at 6.95. In their GVSU debuts, Adalyn Liang and Gianni Harris finished sixth and ninth in the women's finals at 7.68 and 7.75, respectively.
 
Plenty of Lakers competed in the 200m, seven of whom recorded personal-bests in the event (not including collegiate debuts). Dominik Balenda notched the fastest time, crossing the finish line at 21.75. Demarcus Chapa was next to PR with a time of 21.84, then Sam Coyle added a second personal-best to his day with a finish at 21.85. Jacob Ferry (22.11), Mason Floria (22.99) and Joshua Hurt (23.08) all updated their personal records, as well. Catherine Guckenberger and Kate Aniolkowski recorded bests of her own in the women's finals. With a finish at 24.77, Guckenberger ran her way into the number 10 spot in GVSU program history. Aniolkowski notched a personal-best time of 26.53 in her season-debut.
 
The 400m also saw several personal-best times from Lakers. Lance Riddle recorded a personal-best finish at 50.27, while Kate Aniolkowski (58.90), Destini Dorkins (59.79), Kennedy Gardner (1:00.30) and Leeyah Samuels (1:04.02) recorded bests in the women's event.
 
One provisional mark was met for the Lakers in the 4x400m relay. Dominik Balenda, Trannon Aylor, and twins Demarcus Chapa and Desmond Chapa finished the 1600m relay at 3:14.87.
 
Mid-Distance/Distance
Three Lakers met provisional marks in the 800m. Sam Allen was the sole Laker to do so in the men's event, crossing the finish line at 1:50.62. The two Laker women to compete in the event, Addison Washler (2:11.74) and Megan Postma (2:12.03), also exceeded the provisional mark.
Just one Laker recorded a personal-best in the 1 mile. Colin Vanderschaaf shaved nearly four seconds off his previous best, crossing the finish line fifth overall at 4:09.66.
 
Three Laker PR's were recorded in the 3000m – Madelyn Frens with a finish at 10:00.41, Madeleine Hill at 10:04.44 and Drennan Akins at 8:30.16.
 
Several GVSU athletes racing in the 5000m met NCAA DII provisional marks. Abby Olson was the first to do so, crossing the finish line at 16:54.36. Lauren Kiley, Abigail VanderKooi and Allie Arnsman were next, finishing in succession at 16:20.43, 16:28.32 and 16:31.06, respectively. VanderKooi and Arnsman's finishes were also personal-bests. Natalie Mello was the final Laker lady to snatch the standard, finishing at 16:56.92.
 
Koby Fraaza and Conor Somers were the final athletes in Laker blue to meet provisions. Fraaza not only exceeded the mark, but also finished at a personal-best 13:52.89 to land the fourth-fastest time in program history. Somers followed suit; his personal-best 14:11.05 time made his finish the 10^th fastest in GVSU record books.
 
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The GVSU Lakers are back in action on Saturday, January 17 when they host the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open. In the meantime, be sure to follow @GVSUXCTF on Instagram and X and GVSU CC and TF on Facebook for updates, photos and more.