Holland Reporter

Senior thrower Myles Kerner has been named the 2023-24 GLIAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, as announced by the league office. The Grand Rapids native maintained a 3.9 cumulative GPA as a communications major during his tenure at Grand Valley State.

Kerner concluded his senior season at Grand Valley as the NCAA Division II National Champion in both men's indoor and outdoor shot put. He defended his title at the 2024 Indoor National Championships with a throw of 19.31m, securing his second individual title. Additionally, he placed 14th in the men's weight throw at Indoor Nationals with a distance of 19.43m. Kerner led the Grand Valley State Lakers to a National Runner-Up team title at the 2024 Indoor National Championships, contributing to a team score of 56.5 points. At the 2024 Indoor GLIAC Championships, he earned first place in men's weight throw and second place in men's shot put, finishing as the 2024 GLIAC Athlete of the Meet. Kerner ended the indoor season as a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Region honoree, recording seven first-place finishes for the season. He was ranked No.1 in men's shot put and No.11 in men's weight throw throughout Division II.

During the outdoor track and field season, Kerner secured his third individual National Championship title in men's shot put with a personal best of 19.94m, setting new records for Grand Valley State and Welch Family Stadium in Emporia, Kansas. At the 2024 Outdoor GLIAC Championships, he claimed first place in men's shot put with a distance of 19.33m. Kerner concluded his final outdoor season as a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Region honoree, Midwest Region Male Field Athlete of the Year, and GLIAC Male Field Athlete of the Year. Additionally, he was one of five current Grand Valley State athletes to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where he finished 17th overall in men's shot put.

Throughout his time at Grand Valley State, Kerner set school records for men's indoor (19.71m) and outdoor (19.94m) shot put events and held records for Big Meet and Kelly Family Sports Center with a throw of 19.57m.