ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State welcomed more than 1,500 athletes to the Kelly Family Sports Center today as they hosted day one of the GVSU Big Meet. From sunrise to past dusk, athletes from across the nation competed for new PRs, NCAA qualifying marks and division records. The Lakers closed out day one of Big Meet with 47 personal-bests, two program records and one, shiny new NCAA Division II record.
 
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Two program records fell tonight, one of which doubled as an NCAA Division II record. Erika Beistle, who set the NCAA DII women's indoor shot put record just three weeks ago, shattered the mark with a massive 18.26m (59-11) mark. The throw not only established a new divisional record but also puts Beistle fifth across all NCAA divisions and 18th in the world.
 
The men's 4x400m relay squad was the second to let a GVSU record fall. The quad of Desmond Chapa, Demarcus Chapa, Trannon Aylor and Joshua Page combined for a 3:10.56 finish in the event. The finish surpassed the program record of 3:10.81 (Walker, Capers, Hasan, McFarland) set in 2019.
 
Gianni Harris earned a first place finish next with a personal-best 24.90 finish in the women's 200m open. The time placed her first of 33 athletes across seven heats. Harris continued to succeed in the 60m, qualifying for the women's finals with a personal-best finish at 7.62. The finish gives the freshman sole possession of eighth place in program history and places her 42nd in NCAA Division II.
 
It was a PR kind of day for redshirt senior Destini Dorkins. The hurdler qualified for the 60m hurdles finals round after finishing eighth at a personal-best 8.78 in the preliminary round. But she wasn't done yet; in the finals, Dorkins shaved another 0.02 seconds off her PR, crossing the finish line at 8.76. The mark currently ranks her 42nd in NCAA Division II and seventh in program history.
 
Joshua Page, Desmond Chapa and Sam Coyle etched their names in GV history, too. In the 200m, Page finished at a personal-best time of 21.28 to rank fourth all-time (No. 13 NCAA DII), Chapa PR'ed at 21.46 to rank seventh (No. 25 NCAA DII) and Coyle finished at 21.50 to find the number eight spot in program history (No. 32 NCAA DII).
 
The women's 4x400m relay team did not disappoint, either. Claire Neumann, Catherine Guckenberger, Sydney Roberts and Alaina Diaz combined for a finish at 3:42.53. The finish ranks third in NCAA Division II and sixth in program history.
 
Megan Postma and Daisy Speet dominated the women's 800m invitational. The duo captured a five-six finish overall with a personal-best time apiece. Postma finished at 2:09.10, ranking her No. 12 in NCAA Division II and ninth in program history. Speet finished alongside her teammate at 2:09.48, capturing the No. 13 spot in NCAA DII and 10th all-time at GVSU.
 
Colin MacGregor finished at a personal-best time of his own and made his way into national rankings, as well. The redshirt freshman crossed the finish line eighth overall at 1:49.87, ranking 15th in NCAA DII and moving up to No. 5 in program history.
 
Flynn Pumpa and Noah Selvaraj put on a show in the men's mile invitational. Shaving nearly two seconds off his previous best, the Iowa Western CC transfer finished second at 4:02.02 to rank third in program history and No. 14 in NCAA DII. Selvaraj finished seventh overall, clocking a finish at 4:05.56  (No. 32 NCAA DII) and adding his name to the GVSU record books as No. 10 all-time.
 
In the 3000m invitational, Lauren Kiley shaved nearly six seconds off her previous season-best to become the new No. 7 in NCAA Division II. Kiley finished with a one second lead over the third place athlete, crossing the finish line at 9:28.22. 
 
Shelby Ulven strung together a beautiful series in weight throw, never throwing less than 19.26m (63-2.25). On her first throw, she unsurprisingly landed a personal-best 20.21m (66-3.75) mark to move to number five in program history and third in NCAA Division II. Her remaining five throws averaged 19.58m (64-3), with her next-best notched on her second throw (20.04m (65-9)).
 
Michael Griffey showed out in weight throw, as well. On three of his six throws, the redshirt- sophomore threw for at least 20.08m (65-10.50), just one centimeter shy of matching his PR. On his fifth throw, Griffey let weight fly, soaring for a massive 20.21m (66-3.75). The mark ranks him eighth in program history and ninth in NCAA Division II.
 
Avery Lahti and Emily Stinson recorded bests of their own in shot put. On Lahti's third throw, she threw for a personal-best 14.32m (46-11.75), which ranks 20th in NCAA DII. Stinson notched her season-best on her first throw of the series, launching a 13.92m (45-8) shot put to rank 27th in NCAA DII.
 
Brooke Bowers was the lone Laker lady to compete in pole vault today. She took the crown in the event, becoming the new NCAA Division II No. 5 with a season-best 4.18m (13-8.5) bar. She outperformed 13 other athletes, the majority of which hailed from Division I institutions.
 
Dolan Gonzales, Sam Paeth, Brock Bryant and Cam Battjes repped Laker blue in the men's event. Gonzales ranked first with a 5.32m (17-5.5) clearance, a bar that he cleared on his first attempt. Paeth and Bryant finished third and fourth at 5.12m (16-9.5) and 5.02m (16-5.5), respectively and Battjes placed sixth with a mark of 4.92m (16-1.75).
 
Alec Crum was the first to win the crown in an event, taking first in the open flight of men's long jump. He broke seven meters for the first time in his career with a mark of 7.05m (23-10.75). Luke Jelderks and Peter Van Hulle followed with big jumps of their own in the Invitational. Jelderks took first with a 7.17m (23-6.25) mark and Van Hulle ranked third, jumping for 6.92m (22-8.5).
 
Don't worry – the Laker ladies shined in long jump, too. All three women in the Invitational landed season-best or personal-best marks in the event. Nyla Reed led the trio with a 5.75m (18-10.50) personal-best mark that ties her for fifth in program history, Kaitlyn Molnar jumped for 5.71m (18-8.75) to rank seventh all-time and Zoe Zeiser notched a season-best 5.41m (17-9) to round of a three-four-five Laker ranking.
 
Grand Valley State's women preceded the men in the high jump invitational.  Alexis Weber led the crew, placing third with a personal-best 1.76m (5-9.25) bar (tied No. 2 GVSU all-time). The mark effectively punches her ticket to Virginia Beach come March, as it ranks her No. 7 in NCAA Division II. Just behind Weber was Kaylee Diamond, who cleared 1.70m (5-7) to place fourth. Heidi Newhouse placed seventh at a season-best height of 1.67m (5-5.75), while Lauren Rokos and Imogene Brumbaugh tied for eighth, clearing a height of 1.62m (5-3.75).
 
GVSU's men's jumps squad was next. Marcus Gelpi had the best series of his season, clearing four heights in a combined five attempts. Opening at 2.05m (6-8.75), Gelpi progressed through the marks, eventually clearing 2.18m (7-1.75) on his second attempt to become the new No. 1 in NCAA DII.
 
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Though tomorrow is just as busy, the schedule of events is somewhat lighter.
 
Events begin at 10 a.m. as all field events begin in tandem with seven total heats of the women's and men's 3000m.
 
Lakers take the track at 11:25 a.m. in seven heats of the women's 60m hurdles before the men compete in the five heats of the event at 11:50. The 60m dash follows; the women race in nine heats at 12:05 and the men compete across 14 heats at 12:30.
 
Grand Valley State's distance medley relay (DMR) crews make their debut at 1 and 1:25 p.m. The women's 'A' squad is projected to start Megan Postma (1200m), Alaina Diaz (400m), Addison Washler (800m) and Lauren Kiley (1600m). The men's 'A' team features Iowa Western CC transfer Flynn Pumpa (1200m), 400m program record-holder Joshua Page (400m), Sam Allen (800m) and Owen Westerkamp (1600m).
 
Lakers will compete in all remaining events of the day, aside from the women's 800m, as a rolling schedule following four heats of the DMR.
 
GVSU athletes will also be represented across all field events on Saturday, with the exception of men's weight throw and women's triple jump.
 
Horizontal events will feature Grace Moeggenborg, Mirra Fenlon and Jayda Riley in women's long jump (west pit) and Logan Ehlers and Nolyn Johnson III in the men's event (east pit). Ehlers will also compete in triple jump following the completion of long jump
 
Lakers will compete in both of tomorrow's vertical events. Ava Collier, Shaylee McCain, Giuliana Serapiglia and Cassidy Bowden compete in pole vault ahead of Ray Weatherington, Vince Choukas and Mason Floria. Women's high jump will showcase the skills of five GVSU athletes, led by Heidi Newhouse's 1.70m (5-7) entry mark. Ben Rodenbaugh is the sole male athlete competing for Grand Valley in the event.
 
A total of four women and six men compete in shot put tomorrow. The men's event is led by Andrew Berryhill, entered with a personal-best 17.50m (57-5) mark. Three women (Kennedy Jackson, Sofiabella Amirante, Sophia Snellenberger) will represent GVSU in weight throw.
 
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The final day of Big Meet begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. as field events commence and women's 3000m athletes take the starting line.
 
Fans who can't make it to Allendale can watch the Big Meet 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 following the conclusion of all events.