Jan. 29, 2010

Results

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State's men's and women's track and field teams competed at the GVSU Open Friday (Jan. 29) night at the Laker Turf Building. Nate Miller took home a first place finish in the high jump with a jump of 6'7". Ryan Rademacher hit the NCAA provisional mark for the first time this season in the long jump. He placed first with a jump of 23'6.75".

In the men's shot put, Matt Armstrong placed second with a throw of 55'11", while teammate Donny Stiffler finished third, beating his previous provisional mark with a distance of 53'7.75". Nathaniel Smith placed second in the triple jump with a jump of 43'10". Quinton Dennis hit the provisional mark for the first time in the pole vault with a jump of 15'9", giving him a third place finish.

In the running events, Troy Rock crossed the finish line second with a time of 49.43 seconds in the men's 400-meter dash. In the 800-meter run, John Dyer finished third with a time of 1:55.90. The men's 4 x 400-meter relay team of Rock, Michael Bareman, Jared Meier and Craig Rumpf,placed first with a time of 3:20.68.

On the women's side of the track, Candice Wheat took home first place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.63 seconds. Teammate Jade Hull finished right behind in second with a time of 8.89 seconds, beating her previous provisional mark. In the 400-meter dash, Kayla Vallar placed second with a time of 55.78 seconds which also beat her previous provisional mark. Chanelle Caldwell hit the provisional mark for the first time this year finishing third with a time 56.48 seconds.

In the mile run, GVSU took two of the top-three spots, with Karie McDonald finishing second (4:56.91), Lauren Bergstrom third (5:01.36) and Julia Nowak fourth (5:03.27). McDonald, Bergstrom and Nowak all hit the provisional mark for the first time this season.

The women's 4 x 400-meter relay team crossed the finish line first with a time of 3:48.72. Chanelle Caldwell, Hull, Vallar and Wheat hit the provisional mark beating the previous relay time of 3:52.94.

In the field events, the Lakers took the top-two spots in the pole vault. Emily McKerchie finished first with a jump of 11'5.75", while Christi Kettelhut placed second with a jump of 10'11.75". Jennifer Fuller finished second in the high jump with a jump of 5'3.75". In the shot put, Lauren Buresh's throw of 46'4" placed second, while Emily Fox finished third with a throw of 43'7.75", beating her previous provisional mark.

The Lakers will travel to Findlay, Ohio on Thursday, Feb.5, to compete in the DII Challenge.