Feb. 26, 2005

Complete Results

Grand Valley State's women's track and field team won its sixth straight GLIAC Championship title Saturday at Saginaw Valley State University. The Lakers posted 188 points, 27.5 points ahead of second place Ashland.  Lindsey Jones was named the Women's Freshman of the Year, while head coach Jerry Baltes earned his sixth consecutive GLIAC Women's Coach of the Year award.

Sophomore Jennifer O'Shesky claimed the GLIAC title in the 55 meter hurdles, setting a meet record with a time of 8.04.  She also finished in second place in the 55 meter dash, running a NCAA Provisional time of 7.22.  Junior April Szatkowski took fourth place in the 55 meter dash (7.31) and fourth in the 200 meter dash with a NCAA Provisional time of 25.57.  Three Lakers placed in the top five of the 1 mile run, all recording NCAA Provisional marks.  Junior Mandi Zemba ran a 4:54.73 for second place, senior Steph Kuhlman placed third (4:56.52), while senior Krista O'Dell took fifth place in a time of 4:57.15.  O'Dell finished in second place in the 800 meter run, recording a time of 2:15.13.  Four Lakers finished in the top seven of the 3,000 meter run with senior Diana Painter leading the way as she recorded a second place finish in a time of 10:18.94.  Freshman Karlie Singleton placed third (10:19.81), freshman Rosanna Chapman ran a 10:24.03 for fifth place, and junior Rae Russell finished in seventh place with a time of 10:38.34.

The women's 4x400 meter relay team of junior Ashley Thomas, senior Kristen Kulczycki, freshman Micaela Mayer, and junior April Szatkowski finished in second place with a NCAA Provisional time of 3:53.61.

In the field events, the Lakers dominated the pole vault as they notched the top four spots.  Freshman Lindsey Jones captured the GLIAC title with a mark of 11-09.75, while sophomore Rachel Duthler finished in second (11-09.75).  Sophomore Bethany Hecksel placed third with a mark of 11-03.75 and senior Katie Wilkins finished in fourth place (11-03.75).  Junior Pam Treppa placed second in the triple jump (37-08.50) and senior Katie Corner took fifth place in the shot put with a NCAA Provisional mark of 44-04.75.

"Our goal was to win the GLIAC title and have the opportunity for our athletes to improve on their times for the NCAA Championships," said Baltes.  "Although it was tough competition our kids were able to achieve both goals and I am very proud of our performance."