Sports
GVSU women’s track and field claims NCAA championship by single point
The Grand Valley State women’s track and field team proved that every point counts this weekend as the Lakers claimed the NCAA Division II national championship by a single point. GVSU scored 60 points to hold off Adams State (59) and the rest of the field. “This team goes beyond just putting points on a […]
The Grand Valley State women’s track and field team proved that every point counts this weekend as the Lakers claimed the NCAA Division II national championship by a single point.
GVSU scored 60 points to hold off Adams State (59) and the rest of the field.
“This team goes beyond just putting points on a scoreboard,” Erika Beistle said. “All of the laughs, struggles and memories made a long way certainly top everything. We all did our part to etch our names into GVSU history. This had been something we’ve all wanted to accomplish since day one, and to finally achieve that goal is something so very special.”
After Erika Beistle won the discus and Maggie Stevenson was second, Shelby Ulven took second in the hammer throw and Alaina Diaz was second in the long jump earlier in the week, the Lakers earned some more trophies on the final day.
“The team championship is a huge thing for us to accomplish, and it took each and every one of us cheering and competing to earn it,” Ulven said. “I was not expecting to get first coming into this trip and it’s verry exciting to achieve it.”
Klaudia O’Malley reached the podium twice on Saturday in Colorado. She won the national championship in the 1,500 meters (4:29.11) and was sixth in the 5,000 (16:48.73).
Natalie Graber finished third in the 5K at 16:39.72. Brooke Bowers was fifth in the pole vault (4.17 meters. 13 feet, 8 1/4 inches). Mackenzie Bohrer took sixth in the shot put (15.41 meters, 50-6 3/4). West Ottawa graduate Megan Postma competed in the 800.
The GVSU men finished third as a team.
Jaivon Harrison won the high jump national title for the fourth time with a height of 2.18 meters (7 feet, 1 3/4 inches). His teammate JayJay Rankins finished second, giving the Lakers a 1-2 finish.
Zach Pray, Nick Walper, Jacody Sikora and Myles Rhodes took fourth in the 4×100 relay (40.03). Pray, Dominik Balenda, Trannon Taylor and Rhodes took fifth in the 4×400 relay in 3:06.76. Rhodes finished fifth in the 400 (45.99).
Koby Fraaza took fifth in the 5K (14:35.28). Owen Westerkamp finished fourth in the steeplechase at a time of 9:02.19. Dolan Gonzales took sixth in the pole vault with a personal-best clearance of 5.22m (17-1.5). Michael Griffey earned his first outdoor All-American honor with a fourth-place finish in men’s hammer (64.23 meters, 210-8).
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.