Holland Reporter

Grand Valley State's track and field team concluded a busy weekend of competitions across two different states, participating in the South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Florida, and the Ball State We Fly Challenge in Muncie, Indiana. The Lakers fielded competitors in numerous events across both meets, with many athletes achieving personal and season-best performances.

The men's team competed on Friday at the South Florida Invitational in events such as hammer throw, long jump, pole vault, shot put, high jump, and discus. Notable performances included Wyatt Alwine and Camryn Battjes, who set season-bests in the pole vault, clearing 5.11m and 4.86m, respectively. Andrew Berryhill achieved a personal-best in shot put, marking 17.50m, which ranks eighth in Grand Valley State history.

Meanwhile, some Lakers headed to Ball State, where the women participated in high jump and the men in javelin. Lauren Rokos achieved a personal-best in women's high jump with a 1.55m clearance. On Saturday, the Lakers competed in 17 events in Muncie, with significant performances on the track. John Hurt recorded a personal-best of 14.20 in the 110m hurdles, placing him fifth in program history. Destini Dorkins also set a personal-best in the women's 100m hurdles, finishing at 14.29.

In the 400m, Elijah Strong and Trannon Aylor set personal-bests with times of 49.09 and 49.42, respectively. The 400m hurdles featured strong performances, including season-bests from Lance Riddle and Ashtyn Gluck, and personal-bests from Dorkins, Kate Aniolkowski, and Kennedy Gardner. Myles Rhodes excelled in the 200m, achieving a personal-best of 20.86, ranking third at Grand Valley State.

The 4x400m relay teams closed the Ball State events with impressive results. The men's team of Zach Pray, Dominik Balenda, Desmond Chapa, and Myles Rhodes finished with a time of 3:10.07, placing third in GVSU history. The women's team, comprising Catherine Guckenberger, Claire Neumann, Addison Washler, and Alaina Diaz, also ranked third in program history with their time of 3:39.80.

Back in Tampa on Saturday, the women's team participated in hammer throw, pole vault, shot put, high jump, and discus, with promising results. Freshman Brooke Bowers achieved a personal-best in the pole vault, clearing 4.30m, ranking third at the meet and second in GVSU history. Maggie Stevenson delivered a season-best in the discus with a throw of 52.95m.

Looking ahead, the Grand Valley State track and field will divide to compete at the Bryan Clay Invite in Azusa, California, the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, and locally at the GVSU Al Owens Classic. Further details about these events will be made available on gvsulakers.com.