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Grand Valley State's track and field teams returned home on Friday to host the GVSU Open. The Lakers had 18 individuals and a relay team record NCAA Provisional Qualifying marks. GVSU will host the Grand Rapids Championships on Friday, Feb. 18 at 4:00 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.
Freshman Lindsey Jones broke a GVSU school record and notched an NCAA Qualifying mark in the pole vault with a 12-01.75. Seven other Lady Lakers posted NCAA Qualifying marks and times. Junior April Szatkowski posted a first place finish and a time of 25.58. Junior Ashley Thomas finished in first place in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.58, while senior Stephanie Kuhlman won the mile in 4:57.56. Sophomore Karlie Singleton won the 5000 meter run (17:20.05), senior Krista O'Dell placed second with a time of 17:27.23, and junior Adrian Chouinard took third place (17:50.55). Sophomore Jennifer O'Shesky won the long jump with a mark of 18-07.25. The women's 4x400 meter relay team of Thomas, O'Shesky, Katie Mandziara, and Kuhlman took first with a time of 3:55.54.
On the men's side, 10 athletes recorded NCAA Provisional Qualifying marks. Junior Kenny Coleman won the 400 meter dash in a time of 48.60, while senior Don Wilkins ran a 4:15.33 for first place in the mile. Senior Ryan Cole placed first in the 5000 meter (14:27.19) and freshman Dan Jackson (7.58) and Garron Lucius (7.91) took first and second, respectively in the 55 meter hurdles. Sophomore John Ybarra improved on his mark in the shot put by throwing a 17.31m, while senior Ian Morrison recorded a 16.29. Sophomore Charles Smith posted a mark of 17.98 in the weight throw for a second place finish. Sophomore Nick Natale took third in the weight throw (17.72) and junior Mike Simon placed fourth with a throw of 17.10.
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"This was a great weekend for our squad to be able to come back home and have great team and fan support," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "The energy at the track was a great factor for us in accomplishing what we did."
"This was a great step forward for us heading into the final two weeks of the season."
Both the men's and women's teams are ranked #1 in the nation in the power rankings.
