ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State track and field closed out day two of the 2026 GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships this evening. The No. 1 seeded men's and women's squads advanced 32 athletes from preliminary events to tomorrow's finals and saw 16 Lakers occupy spots on the podium. After two days of championship competition the men lead competition with 99 points while the women lead with 59.
 
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The first Lakers to find the podium did so with a sweep. Michael Griffey took the individual title in men's hammer throw with a personal-best 69.25m (227-2) toss that he landed on his final attempt. The mark not only granted him the crown, but also ranked him No. 3 in NCAA DII. Sebastian Tesch took second, throwing for 65.94m (216-4) and Lucas Lesher occupied the final spot on the podium with a 62.27m (204-3) throw. The trio added a total of 24 points to the men's score
 
The Laker ladies added 25 points in hammer throw. Shelby Ulven and Emily Stinson went one-two in the event. Ulven threw a 56.08m (184-0) hammer and Stinson slightly trailed, throwing for 53.42m (175-3). Sofiabella Amirante and Sophia Snellenberger added the other seven points to the team total, placing fifth and sixth in the event. Amirante threw for 47.93m (157-3) and Snellenberger's best throw landed at 47.66m (156-4).
 
Cam Battjes, the only GVSU athlete competing in pole vault, was named champion in the men's event. He was awarded the individual title with a 4.87m (15-11.75) bar, adding 10 points to the men's ledger.
 
The jumps squad added a total of 40 points to the men's and women's scores. Ben Rodenbaugh, the only men's high jumper for GVSU, added eight points with a runner-up finish at his first ever GLIAC Championships. Not only did he earn a spot on the podium, but he also cleared a personal-best height of 2.08m (6-9.75) to rank No. 22 in NCAA DII. 
 
Dylan LaFontsee and Prentice Gardner Jr. added 11 more points in long jump. LaFontsee's best jump of the day, a season-best 7.11m (23-4), earned him second place in the event. Gardner Jr added three points with a 6.95m (22-9.75) leap to rank sixth overall.
 
The remaining 21 points were courtesy of Zoe Zeiser, Nyla Reed and Mirra Fenlon in women's long jump. The trio went one-three-four in the event; Zeiser was crowned individual champion with a 5.74m (18-10) mark, Reed placed third at 5.63m (18-5.75) and Fenlon earned fourth with a day's-best jump of 5.60m (18-4.5).
 
Grand Valley State's remaining finals of the day, the women's and men's 3000m steeplechase and men's 10000m, saw six Lakers find a spot on the podium.
 
Owen Westerkamp and Conor Somers both earned crowns in their respective events. Westerkamp ran a 9:06.28 3000m steeplechase to place first and Somers finished the 10000m at an NCAA-qualifying, personal-best finish at 29:34.65 to rank No. 17 in DII. 
 
Landyn Howell, Flynn Pumpa and Sebastian Ramirez were named GLIAC Runner-Ups. With a personal-best 10:28.69 finish in the steeplechase, Howell ranks No. 8 in NCAA DII; Pumpa crossed the steeplechase finish line just behind his teammate at 9:06.48 and Ramirez notched a personal-best 29:46.64 finish in the 10000m to rank No. 27 in DII.
 
Though they narrowly missed the podium, Ava Crews and Brock Wooderson still performed and earned points for their teams. Crews placed fourth to earn five points for the women in the steeplechase with a personal-best finish at 10:44.29 (No. 29 NCAA DII) and Wooderson closed out his collegiate career with a fifth place finish in the 10000m at 30:13.77 (No. 54 NCAA DII).
 
Tomorrow's finals events will showcase the talents of the 32 Lakers who advanced from their preliminary events, as well as those competing in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, 5000m and field events. A list of Lakers competing tomorrow may be found here.
 
Although there were plenty of GVSU standouts from today's prelims, there were a handful of personal-best and NCAA-qualifying marks.
 
Freshman Norah Galton and senior Lance Riddle both recorded personal-bests in the 400m hurdles. Galton qualified for the finals with a 1:02.91 finish that ranked her second overall, while Riddle finished first overall with a personal-best 52.08 time that ranks him No. 23 in NCAA DII. Alaina Diaz and Adalyn Liang found PRs in the 200m. Diaz became the new No. 25 in NCAA DII with a finish at 24.01 and Liang crossed the finish line fifth overall at a personal-best 24.83.
 
Fans can watch the Lakers in action in person at the GVSU Track and Field/Lacrosse Complex by purchasing tickets at the gate or in advance at gvsulakers.com. Fans can also tune in on FloCollege or follow along with live results provided by Fairchild Sports Timing on Athletic.net.
 
 
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 championship, including team scores and more, will be posted following the conclusion of the 2026 GLIAC Outdoor Championships.