ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State's track and field squads officially closed out the final meets ahead of the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. Lakers competed at the Hillsdale College Last Chance Meet (Hillsdale Mich.), the Harrison Dillard Twilight Meet (Berea, Ohio), the St. Francis Fighting Chance Invite (Joliet, Ill.), the Len Paddock Open (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and the GVSU Last Chance Meet (Allendale, Mich.). Through the five meets, five GVSU athletes and three relay squads punched their tickets to the National Championships.
 
Hillsdale College Last Chance Meet – Results
Harrison Dillard Twilight Meet – Results
St. Francis Fighting Chance Invite – Results
Len Paddock Open – Results
GVSU Last Chance Meet – Results
 
The team started their weekend at Hillsdale's Last Chance Meet. Several sprinters and hurdlers competed, as well as a handful of field athletes. The most remarkable performance came from the women's 4x100m relay squad. Catherine Guckenberger, Taylor Kyle, Claire Neumann and Alaina Diaz ran a time of 45.52 in the event. The time put them at third in Grand Valley State program history at the time.
 
Three meets awaited GVSU athletes on Thursday. Lakers traveled to Baldwin Wallace for the Harrison Dillard Twilight Meet and to Michigan for the Len Paddock Meet; no notable personal-bests of NCAA qualifying marks were recorded.
 
Six Laker ladies competed in Joliet, Illinois at the St. Francis Fighting Chance Invite. Abby VanderKooi, Maggie O'Malley and Annika Sandman all recorded personal-bests in the 10000m. VanderKooi recorded a 34:43.67 finish in the event to punch her ticket to the National Championships, ranking 17^th in the event in NCAA DII.
 
Field events kicked off the GVSU Last Chance Meet on Sunday at noon. Shelby Ulven and Alaina Omonode started the day in a big way with personal-and-season-best hammer throws. Ulven threw for a personal-best 61.22m (200-10), solidifying her spot at the National Championships and moving up to number four all-time in program history. Omonode recorded a season-best 56.24m (184-6) mark, grabbing the 22^nd spot in NCAA DII and landing her a spot in Pueblo, Colorado (at the time of her throw).
 
The relay squads confidently punched their tickets to the National Championships, as well. Starting with the women's 4x100m relays, the team consisting of Catherine Guckenberger, Taylor Kyle, Claire Neumann and Alaina Diaz ran a qualifying time of 45.12. Their finish ranks them 13^th in Division II. The men's squad (Zach Pray, Nick Walper, Jacody Sikora, Myles Rhodes) was next and recorded a new program record with their performance. Finishing at 39.78, the team leapt to the top of Grand Valley's record book and ranks as the current number three in DII, punching their own tickets to nationals.
 
Although he didn't score a trip to nationals, Joshua Hurt recorded a new personal-best in the 110m hurdles. Hurt finished at 14.04, ranking third in program history. Ethan Smith recorded a season-best in the event with a finish at 14.20, Dominic Downes tied his season-best 14.21 and Lance Riddle ran a personal-best 14.79.
 
Megan Postma made sure to punch her ticket, too. The redshirt-freshman ran a personal-best 800m time, finishing at 2:06.65. She now ranks fifth in program history and 10^th in Division II. 
 
Lucas Lesher snagged a spot of his own, throwing for 60.68m (199-1), placing him at 17 in DII. Michael Griffey solidified his spot in Colorado with a personal-best 64.50m (211-07) hammer throw.
 
Although not recording a Colorado-qualifying finish, Alaina Diaz ran a personal-best 24.05 time in the 200m that ranks her second in school history. Freshman Ava Collier recorded a personal-best in pole vault, too. She hit the 12-foot mark, clearing 3.66m (12-00) on her second attempt at the height.
 
Erika Beistle shined in both events at home, throwing for over 200 feet through five of her six distance throws and recording a new season-best in shot put. Her 16.02m (52-6.75) throw solidifies her third-place ranking in Division II.
 
In high jump, Jaivon Harrison stole the show. He recorded a 2.26m (7-5) height to tie his personal-best and record a new season-best. He remains number one in NCAA DII.
 
The final athlete to punch their ticket was Colton Emeott. The senior tied his personal-best outdoor height of 5.08m (16-8) to grab the number 14 (tied) spot in NCAA Division II.
 
--
 
Grand Valley State remains in sunny Allendale for the week as they prepare to compete at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colorado from May 22 through May 25. More information will be provided in the near future via gvsulakers.com and on Instagram and X at @GVSUXCTF.