Holland Reporter

The Grand Valley State track and field team wrapped up their first outdoor weekend of the 2024 season, participating in events at the 49ers Classic in Charlotte, NC, and the USF Bulls Invitational in Tampa, FL.

At the 49ers Classic, the men's hammer throw event concluded after a delay due to insufficient daylight. Shane Byrne secured first place with a personal-best throw of 61.95 meters. Matt Thomas achieved second place with his own personal best of 59.98 meters, while James Mackey Jr. finished seventh with a distance of 53.21 meters.

Thomas also competed in the men's shot put, earning second place with an 18.18-meter throw. In the men's discus event, Mackey Jr. claimed fifth place with a personal-best throw of 54.76 meters and Nathan Spitzley finished eighth with a distance of 50.18 meters.

On the women's side, Paige Westra placed ninth in the shot put with a throw measuring 13.80 meters.

In Tampa at the USF Bulls Invitational, relay teams completed their events for the weekend. The women's 4x100m relay team—comprising Catherine Guckenberger, Melia Williams, Alaina Diaz, and Kate Zang—finished eleventh with a time of 46.28 seconds.

Both men's and women's teams performed well in the 4x400m relays on day two of competition at USF Bulls Invitational, both finishing within the top ten positions. The women's team consisted of Isabel Abdouch, Catherine Guckenberger, Ashtyn Gluck and Zate Zang who took ninth place clocking in at 3:45:11 minutes; whereas Steven Harris led men’s team along Ben Ireland Fallou Gaye Myles Rhodes earning fifth spot by recording time as low as possible which was recorded precisely three minute eleven point forty-seven seconds

Looking ahead to next weekend's IWU Polar Bear Classic scheduled from March twenty-second through twenty-third held Marion Indiana where Lakers are set compete further