May 17, 2006

Grand Valley State qualified 29 student-athletes for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. The Lakers will have a school record 19 men and 10 women represented at the meet hosted by Emporia State in Emporia, Kansas. The 29 student athletes is the most Grand Valley State has ever sent to the championships.

The following is a list of the student-athletes who qualified.

Men
Bryan Boeve, Jr., 800 meter dash, 1:51.42
John Collins, Jr., 800 meter dash, 1:51.75
Chris Hammer, Fr., 3000 meter steeplechase, 9:08.44
Robbie Young, Jr., 3000 meter steeplechase, 9:10.24
Nate Peck, So., 5000 meter run, 14:28.51
Ryan Holm, So., 5000 meter run, 14:34.10
Nate Peck, So., 10,000 meter run, 30:01.62
Dan Jackson, So., 110 meter hurdles, 14.22
Garron Lucius, So., 110 meter hurdles, 14.36
Nick Natale, Jr., shot put, 54-08.75
Ahmed Mahr, Fr., discus, 169-07.50
Josh Harris, Sr., discus, 165-09.75
Casey Fechter, Jr., hammer, 187-02
Nick Natale, Jr., hammer, 183-06
Josh Harris, Sr., hammer, 180-11
Bryant Wilson, Fr., pole vault, 16-04.75
Brian Beach, Sr., pole vault, 16-02.75
Mike Stowe, So., decathlon, 6590
Kenny Coleman, Sr., 4x400 relay, 3:11.95
Mackenzie Lucius, Fr., 4x400 relay, 3:11.95
Joe LeFevre, Jr., 4x400 relay, 3:11.95
Kris Olgesbee, So., 4x400 relay, 3:11.95


Women
Mandi Zemba, Jr., 3000 meter run, 9:29.54
Lauren Bader, Jr., 3000 meter run, 10:01.62
Laura Aderman, So., 3000 meter steeplechase, 10:49.94
Mandi Zemba, Jr., 5000 meter run, 15:48.62
Adrian Chouinard, Sr., 5000 meter run, 17:07.16
Karlie Singleton, So., 5000 meter run, 17:14.28
Lauren Bader, Jr., 5000 meter run, 17:21.26
Karlie Singleton, So., 10,000 meter run, 36:08.21
Stacey Kandas, Jr., 10,000 meter run, 37:02.06
Adrian Chouinard, Sr., 10,000 meter run, 37:02.71
Rachel Duthler, Jr., pole vault, 12-08.00
Lindsey Jones, So., pole vault, 12-04.00
Dianna Noonan, Fr., pole vault, 12-03.50
Morgan Acre, So., discus, 151-10.25
Morgan Acre, So., hammer, 183-00

"We are excited about our numbers on the men's side," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "This will probably be the largest team at the championships. We will need to compete very well and move up on our seeds in order to score some points."

"One huge advantage we have is that 15 out of the 19 men have national meet experience," he added. "This should give us great confidence going into the championship."

"This will be our best group of student-athletes that we will bring to a championship on the women's side as well," said Baltes. "Though we do not have the numbers that the men have we have a lot of high seeds that will have an opportunity to compete for some major points going toward the team title."