Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University is preparing to host the 2024 Outdoor GLIAC Track and Field Championships from May 1st to May 3rd in Allendale, Michigan. The event will commence with the men's decathlon 100m on the first day at 1:30 p.m.

The second day will begin at 9:00 a.m., featuring remaining multi-events and preliminary running and field events starting at 2:30 p.m. The final day's activities are set to start at 10:00 a.m. with four field events, followed by the final running events at 11:10 p.m.

Both the Grand Valley State Lakers' men's and women's teams enter the championships ranked first in the GLIAC. The men's team is also ranked second nationally in Division II, while the women's team holds fourth place.

The Grand Valley State women's program aims for its 24th consecutive GLIAC Outdoor Championship title. Meanwhile, the men seek their sixth consecutive title and their 17th overall GLIAC title.

In the men's decathlon, Mason Floria and Ian Trall will compete for the Lakers. Floria returns as the defending champion after achieving a personal-best score of 5748 points last year. He also set five new personal bests during that season. Trall finished fourth in last year's championship with a total of 5120 points, setting two personal bests. This season, he has achieved three new personal bests in high jump (1.85m), pole vault (3.35m), and discus (24.55m).

Freshman Kennedy Gardner will participate in her first GLIAC Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Gardner placed sixth in the pentathlon during this year's indoor championships with a total of 2915 points, setting two personal bests. She has recorded four new personal bests this season in various events including javelin (14.76m) and shot put (8.61m).

Spectators can attend by purchasing tickets online or follow updates on social media @GVSUXCTF or through gvsulakers.com. The championships will also be streamed live on FloTrack for subscribers.