Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State University's track and field teams have achieved top rankings both nationally and regionally, as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The university's athletes have been recognized in six events as #EventSquads, a designation for the best-performing team in each event.

The USTFCCCA uses the Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI) to calculate weekly rankings across NCAA track and field. This system considers place points and separation between finishing positions for each event.

In the Midwest region, both men's and women's squads from Grand Valley State hold the number one position according to the USTFCCCA's TFRI 2025 Indoor Checkpoint #1. The men's team scored 770.35, significantly ahead of second-place Tiffin with 298.24 points. The women's team achieved a score of 519.65, surpassing Ashland's 382.57.

Nationally, the men's team maintained their top ranking in Division II track and field with a TFRI total of 229.47, nearly 40 points ahead of Pittsburg State at 192.61. The women's team had a close competition with Pittsburg State, totaling a TFRI score of 190.28.

Six Grand Valley events were highlighted as #EventSquads this week. According to the USTFCCCA, "#EventSquad rankings places a rank order to a program's 'squad' of athletes in a particular event."

For men’s events, the recognized squads include the 800m, pole vault, weight throw, and high jump. In the 800m category, Caleb Futter is ranked fourth (1:50.25), while Samuel Allen is ninth (1:50.53). Pole vaulters Dolan Gonzales and Wyatt Alwine are seventh (5.15m/16-10.75) and eighth (5.11m/16-9.25), respectively.

The weight throw features three Lakers: James MacKey Jr., fifth (20.52m/67-4); Myles Kerner, sixth (20.12m/66-0.25); Michael Griffey, ninth (19.61m/64-4). In high jump, Eli Kosiba leads with an NCAA-best mark of 2.30m (7-6.25), followed by Marcus Gelpi at second with 2.21m (7-3), Jaivon Harrison third at 2.20m (7-2.25), and Jonathan Rankins-James fifth at 2.15m (7-0).

On the women’s side, #EventSquads include participants in the mile run and shot put categories: Natalie Graber ranks fifth in mile run with a time of 4:44:07; Lauren Kiley is seventh at 4:46:33; Maria Mitchell follows closely in eighth at 4:46:62.

Erika Beistle leads all DII women in shot put with her record-breaking throw of 17:20m (56-5¼). Mackenzie Bohrer also secured an impressive mark ranking eleventh at shot put with her throw measuring at14:72 m(48–3½).