ALLENDALE, Mich. – Over a two-day span, thousands of athletes from across the country will compete at this weekend's biggest meet – literally. More than 3,000 athletes in 3,500 entries will compete at the Kelly Family Sports Center as Grand Valley State hosts the annual Big Meet this Friday and Saturday.
 
Big Meet Website
Friday - Live Results | Watch Live on FloTrack | Tickets
Saturday – Live Results | Watch Live on FloTrack | Tickets
 
Grand Valley State athletes enter the weekend ranked second and third in NCAA Division II men's and women's track and field, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) earlier this week. The rankings come with marks that lead the nation's largest meet.
 
The men lead the field in four of Friday's events, while the women lead in three. Joshua Page leads by 0.25 seconds in the 200m dash, clocking a finish at 20.51 to enter competition. Lauren Kiley's personal-best 9:13.90 3000m time places her comfortably at the top of the field, while Owen Westerkamp's finish at 7:59.89 ranks him at the top of the event. Luke Jelderks stays situated at the top of Division II and Big Meet ranks with a 7.54m (24-9) long jump mark and Shelby Ulven reigns supreme with a 19.95m (65-5.5) weight throw. Other leaders include the men's 4x400m relay and Kaylee Diamond's high jump mark, both of which lead with superior marks achieved last season.
 
Although Friday's events begin at 8:30 a.m. (men's 5000m, heat 10), Lakers won't hit the track until 12:05 p.m. when the lady Lakers take on the heats one through four of the women's 400m open. There is a brief hiatus in running events until freshmen Gianni Harris (heat four), Sydney Roberts (heat five) and Adalyn Liang (heat six) take the track in the women's 200m (12:40 p.m.).
 
The day will pass quickly following the first two track events, as Lakers will compete in several back-to-back running events throughout the remainder of the day. GVSU athletes will compete in the men's 200m open (1 p.m.) and section three of the men's 5000m (1:35 p.m.) before following a rolling schedule of the remaining events.
 
Lakers will compete in field events beginning at noon on Friday; multi-event athlete Mason Floria will compete in long jump alongside Alec Crum and Prentice Gardner Jr. in the open flight of men's long jump. 
 
Emily Stinson and Shelby Ulven kick off invitational throws with weight throw beginning at 2 p.m. Sophia Snellenberger, Sofiabella Amirante and Kennedy Jackson will compete in black and Laker blue in the open flights following the invite. The men's weight throw invite begins following the completion of the women's event and will see Lucas Lesher, Michael Griffey, Brandon Schirck and Sebastian Tesch compete for new marks in the event.
 
Women's pole vault will begin at 2 p.m., as well. Brooke Bowers is the sole Laker lady to compete on day one of Big Meet. The men's squad of Camryn Battjes, Brock Bryant, Samuel Paeth and Dolan Gonzales will compete following the conclusion of the women's event.
 
Two men will throw shot in the invitational flight of Friday's events. Gerald Capaccio and Andrew Berryhill compete ahead of Garrett Weeden in the open flight. Paige Westra and Erika Beistle follow in the invite ahead of Emily Stinson, Avery Lahti and Kennedy Jackson in flight two of the open.
 
At 3 p.m., men's and women's long jumpers will compete in the invitational. Peter Van Hulle, Dylan LaFontsee and Luke Jelderks make up Grand Valley's men's squad while Nyla Reed, Kaitlyn Molnar and Zoe Zeiser represent the women.
 
Women's high jumpers Lauren Rokos, Imogene Brumbaugh, Heidi Newhouse, Alexis Weber and Kaylee Diamond are slated to compete in the invite flight at 3:30 p.m. The men's jumpers – Ben Rodenbaugh, Andrew Kraft, Braden Prielipp and Marcus Gelpi – will compete forty minutes after the women's invite ends.
 
Both days of the Big Meet will be broadcast on FloTrack. Fans may also follow the action online with live results provided by Fairchild Sports Timing on Athletic.net. Those interested in attending the meets may purchase tickets online or in person each day of the event.
 
Be sure to follow @GVSUXCTF on Instagram and X and GVSU CC and TF on Facebook for photos, live updates and more. A story recapping the day's events and final results of the meet will be posted to gvsulakers.com at the end of each day.