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GVSU Throwers Lead NCAA DII After Day One of Competition

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Though day one of the weekend for Grand Valley State's No. 1/3 men's and women's track field squads was light, their throws, jumps and vaults were major. Through six hours of competition and just six events,10 Lakers notched season-or-personal-bests in their event and five updated or added marks to GVSU's all-time top 10 record book. Two of these marks were recorded by the new No. 2 and 3 hammer throwers in NCAA Division II.
 
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Andrew Kraft was the first to land a personal-best, throwing for 40.10m (131-6) in his javelin-debut.
 
Prentice Gardner Jr. followed suit with a massive personal-best of his own in triple jump. The sophomore landed the new No. 30 spot in NCAA Division II with a 14.49m (47-6.5) mark that ranks him third in program history.
 
Freshmen Jayda Riley and Mirra Fenlon competed in triple jump, as well. Riley placed third in the event with a collegiate-best 10.95m (35-11.25) mark and Fenlon landed sixth with a 10.73m (35-2.5) triple jump in her debut.
 
While in Florida, Camryn Battjes and Brock Bryant wowed the crowd in pole vault. The duo went 4-5 at the South Florida Invitational, trailing two student-athletes from South Florida and one from North Carolina. Battjes cleared a personal-best 5.16m (16-11) bar, ranking 11th in DII and seventh in program history. Bryant recorded a personal-best height of 5.11m (16-9.25) to rank No. 13 in DII and tie for 10th in program history.
 
The day ended with the invitational flights of hammer throw back on home turf. On her final throw of the day, Shelby Ulven landed a season-best 59.60m (195-6) to remain fourth in DII. Avery Lahti threw a personal-best 54.84m (179-11) on her penultimate attempt, effectively making the NCAA DII qualifying list with a throw that ranks No. 13.
 
The men's invite closed out day one of the weekend. Michael Griffey and Sebastian Tesch led the event, both throwing new personal-best marks in the event to move up in program and national rankings. Griffey found a new PR on his third attempt with a 68.61m (225-1) toss, becoming the new No. 2 in Division II. Tesch followed just one attempt later, throwing for 68.33m (224-2) PR, ranking No. 3 behind his teammate. The duo ranks second and third in program history.
 
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