Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's track and field team is preparing to compete at the 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Nationals, scheduled for March 8-9. The event will take place at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas, hosted by Pittsburg State.

The Lakers have entered a total of 30 individual competitors, with 18 women and 12 men participating. They will also field both men's and women's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) teams and a 4x400m relay team.

The first day of competition begins at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (CT), though Grand Valley State's participation starts later in the day at 2:25 p.m. CT with the men's weight throw. Shane Byrne, Myles Kerner, and James Mackey Jr. are set to represent the university in this event. Notably, Grand Valley State is the only team with more than one athlete competing in the men's weight throw.

James Mackey Jr., Shane Byrne, and Myles Kerner are ranked on the USTFCCCA Top 25 List for their performances in the weight throw, with Mackey Jr. ranking eighth, Byrne tenth, and Kerner eleventh.

Taylor DeHommel will compete in the women's pole vault starting at 3:25 p.m. CT. DeHommel is currently ranked tenth on the USTFCCCA Top 25 list with a personal best of 4.02 meters.

The preliminaries for the men's mile begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by the women's preliminaries shortly after. Caleb Futter and Patrick Lyell will run for Grand Valley State's men’s team while Klaudia O'Malley and Maria Mitchell will represent the women’s side.

All four runners appear on Division II's Top 25 List; Futter ranks third and Lyell fourteenth among men, while O'Malley ranks fourth and Mitchell ninth among women.

At 4:40 p.m., Scott Spaanstra will participate in the men's 800m prelims followed by Taryn Chapko in the women's category. The top two from each heat plus two fastest times overall will move to Saturday's finals.

In women's weight throw starting at 4:55 p.m., Alaina Omonode holds a spot in Division II's Top Three with her personal best of 19.75 meters while Shelby Ulven ranks seventeenth with an effort of 18.46 meters.

Grand Valley State has five athletes entered in Friday’s biggest event —the women's 5000m race— taking place at 6:15 p.m.: Natalie Graber, Ana Tucker, Lauren Kiley Kayce Rypma Abby VanderKooi all competed as part of last year’s Cross Country National Championship-winning squad.

Day one concludes around DMR events beginning around half-past six when both squads hit tracks simultaneously —men comprising Patrick Lyell Myles Rhodes Scott Spaanstra Caleb Futter whereas females consist Mitchell Kate Zang Taryn Chapko Natalie Graber running relay legs respectively

For live updates follow @GVSUXCTF or visit gvsulakers.com throughout these nationals spanning until March ninth