Holland Reporter

The Grand Valley State track and field program is set to begin its 2024 outdoor season with two events this weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tampa, Florida. The throws team will compete at the 49ers Classic in Charlotte on March 15-16, while most of the sprints squad will participate in the USF Bulls Invitational in Tampa over the same period.

At the 49ers Classic, Grand Valley State will have 11 athletes competing. The competition starts on Friday, March 15, at 11:00 a.m. with the women's hammer throw and continues with the men's javelin at 2:30 p.m. Shelby Ulven, Alaina Omonode, and Natalia Pluff will make their outdoor season debut in the women's hammer throw. Omonode recently placed sixth at the NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Nationals in the women's weight throw event.

Bobby Maxwell is set to compete for a second time this season in the men's javelin after finishing 13th last year at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Nationals. The men's hammer throw begins at 3:00 p.m., featuring Shane Byrne, Matt Thomas, and James Mackey JR., who finished fifth at the recent NCAA DII Indoor Nationals.

The first day of competition at the 49ers Classic concludes with the women's discus event at 5:45 p.m., where Erika Beistle leads Paige Westra and Margaret Stevenson. Beistle recently won her first individual National Championship title in women's shot put.

Meanwhile, in Tampa, Grand Valley State has entered 14 athletes into various events at the USF Bulls Invitational starting on Friday afternoon. Alaina Diaz kicks off proceedings for Grand Valley State with her participation in the women's long jump after securing second place at this year's GLIAC Indoor Championships.

The sprints crew takes over from there with Brooke Barkocy and Ashtyn Gluck competing in women's hurdles alongside Fallou Gaye, Steven Harris, and Joshua Hurt representing men’s hurdles. The day's events wrap up with both women’s and men’s 200m races starting from 6:20 p.m., featuring Kate Zang among others for women and Myles Rhodes leading his team members for men.