May 6, 2005

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State turned in a solid first day at the 2005 GLIAC Track & Field Championships and enter the final day in second place with 56 points. Saginaw Valley State is first with 58. The second and final day of the 2005 Championships, which is being held on the campus of Grand Valley State in Lubbers Stadium, will begin at 11 a.m.

Sophomore Chris Pabst closed the first day with an impressive performance in the 10,000 meter run. Pabst stayed with the lead pack for the majority of the 25-lap race, but made his move with four laps to go and cruised to the title with a time of 30:49.14. Senior Ryan Cole finished fifth (31:59.00) and sophomore Casey Abston was sixth (32:09.06). Sophomore Casey Fechter and junior Josh Harris were second and third, respectively, in the hammer throw, while Charles Smith and Nick Natale finished sixth and seventh as the Lakers scored 19 points in the event. Freshman Robbie Young finished third in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:22.09, while Kirk Manchip and Bryan Dovichi took fifth and sixth in the triple jump. GVSU qualified 13 in the running event prelims for day two.