EMPORIA, Ks. – For the second time in program history, Grand Valley State has been named NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field Champion. It was Koby Fraaza who sealed the deal, finishing sixth in the men's 5000m to add three points to the men's team score just two days after winning the national title in the 10000m. The men scored 66 points over the three days, leading Pittsburg St. by five points to win the national title. The women scored 11.7 points with four podium finishes.
 
Final Results
 
"Our guys competed so tough all the way through," said Head Coach Jerry Baltes. "To score 66 points is just outstanding."
 
The final individual event of the day, the men's 5000m, was what clinched the title for Grand Valley State. Koby Fraaza completed the 12.5 laps in 14:10.82, completing the final 400m in just one minute. With his sixth place finish, he contributed three points to the score to lead the competition. He totaled 13 points in two events.
 
"It was great to see him do that," said Baltes. "He's been a great addition to our program the last five years and this has been a long time coming."
 
In the women's 5000m, Lauren Kiley finished 10th at 16:37.33, Ana Tucker crossed the finish line 12th at 16:41.19 and Abigail VanderKooi finished 16th at 16:47.66.
 
The men's 4x100m relay was the first track event of the day and the first event to add points to the board. Sam Mitas, Jason Hamilton II, Sam Coyle and Joshua Page completed the 400m, one-lap relay in 39.80 to place fifth. Their finish ranked them No. 2 in program history and added four points to the team tally.
 
The men's 4x400m relay squad (Aydan McCarey, Demarcus Chapa, Desmond Chapa, Joshua Page) closed out the day with an eighth place finish, adding one point to the team total.
 
Joshua Page added individual points to the team total, too. In the last individual event of his collegiate career, Page crossed the 400m finish line third at a season-best 45.35. The finish updated Grand Valley's program record in the event yet again, just 48 hours after he changed it for the second time.
 
Grand Valley State impressed in men's pole vault, adding a total of seven points from two athletes. Freshman Sam Paeth highlighted the event, exceeding his personal-best by several inches. On his second attempt, Paeth cleared 5.36m (17-7) to establish a new PR and rank No. 2 in program history. At the end of competition, he ranked fifth (4 pts.). Dolan Gonzales was just behind his teammate. It took just three attempts for the junior to place sixth, clearing the three heights on his first attempt. His 5.26m (17-3) bar earned him his fourth All-America honor. Camryn Battjes placed 12th to earn Second-Team All-America honors with a 5.01m (16-5.25) bar.
 
Joshua Hurt, who qualified for the 110m hurdles finals with a second place finish in heat two of yesterday's prelims, earned his first All-America honor today. The sophomore crossed the finish line eighth at 14.10 to add two points to the team score from a technicality.
 
Alexis Weber earned points for the women's squad with a five-way tie for eighth place in women's high jump. The junior earned her first All-America honor with a 1.67m (5-5.75) bar.
 
Paige Westra and Avery Lahti competed for GVSU in shot put. Westra just missed the podium, placing ninth with a 14.97m (49-1.5) throw. Lahti placed 17th, throwing for 14.05m (46-1.25).
 
"We came out here and battled today," said Baltes. "It was truly a team effort."