ALLENDALE, Mich. – Following this weekend's six meet whirlwind, three Grand Valley State track and field athletes have been honored by the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week. Flynn Pumpa earned the Men's Track Athlete of the Week honors while Marcus Gelpi and Brooke Bowers were named the Men's and Women's Field Athletes of the Week. This marks the first time each student-athlete in the trio has earned the honor this season.
 
Pumpa, a junior transfer from Iowa Western Community College, competed in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase at this weekend's Bryan Clay Invitational. He headlined the weekend for Grand Valley State, recording personal-best finishes in both events to rank in the top three of NCAA Division II. His first event of the weekend was the steeplechase, narrowly missing a program record finish to place second of 93 athletes at 8:43.63. The fast finish ranks him second in program history and third across all DII athletes. He dominated in the 1500m on Saturday evening, finishing at 3:40.26 to break the GVSU program record in the event by more than two seconds and rank second among his NCAA DII competitors.
 
Gelpi rightfully earned Men's Field Athlete of the Week honors following a personal-best outdoor high jump mark at the 66th Annual Mt. SAC Relays. The redshirt-senior was the only Division II athlete competing in the Elite Invitational event, going up against seven NCAA Division I athletes and one elite pro competitor. He opened competition at 2.10m (6-10.75) and soared over the bar on his first attempt. Gelpi, already leading two others, progressed to 2.15m (7-0.5) and easily cleared the mark on his first jump, ranking fourth of eight others in the event. The mark ranks the California kid third in NCAA Division II and sixth in GVSU program history.

The final Laker to receive this week's GLIAC honor is Bowers, who currently leads NCAA Division II with her most-recent mark in pole vault. The sophomore competed at this weekend's Oakland University Elaine Leigh Track & Field Invitational, marking her fourth outing of the 2026 outdoor season. Bowers opened competition at 4.08m (13-4.5), already exceeding her second-place opponent's bar by nearly two feet. She cleared the height on her second attempt, progressing onto 4.23m (13-10.5) in an attempt to exceed her current season-best (4.15m / 13-7.25). On her second attempt, Bowers soared over the bar to become the new leader in NCAA Division II.