May 27, 2007

Charlotte, N.C. - Grand Valley State sophomore Bryant Wilson claimed the National Championship in the pole vault at the 2007 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Charlotte, N.C. Saturday (May 26). Wilson, who also claimed the 2007 DII Indoor National Championship, tallied his title with a vault of 17-02.75. As a team, GVSU finished with 25 points and claimed eighth-place, the best-ever outdoor finish for a Laker squad.

Robbie Young earned All-America honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase with his fourth-place finish in a time of 9:04.65, while teammate Chris Hammer finished just over a second behind Young (9:05.67) in sixth place to earn his own All-America award. Nate Peck added yet another All-America honor to his resume with a seventh-place finish in the 5000 (14:26.92). Scott Levering was 13th in the pole vault (15-05) and Ahmad Mahr was 11th in the discus.

"Bryant Wilson was outstanding and what an accomplishment for him to back up his indoor national championship with an outdoor title," said head coach Jerry Baltes.

"In addition, I'm really proud of how the men competed at the national championships. We came in wanting to finish in the top 10 and we were able to move up a couple of spots among some outstanding team," stated Baltes.