Feb. 18, 2009

BAY CITY, Mich. - Grand Valley State's track and field teams combined for three GLIAC Player of the Week awards on Tuesday, as Todd Schuster, Candice Wheat and Jessica Rutherford all garnered the honor. GVSU has won 10 such awards during the indoor season.

Schuster (Denver, Colo.) set a Grand Valley State University record with a time of 1:50.74 in the 800-meter run at the GVSU Big Meet. His time also automatically qualified him for the NCAA Indoor National Championships. The senior competed in the American Milers Club-High Performance section and took sixth place. He has also provisionally qualified for the national championships as part of both the 1600-meter relay and the distance medley relay. Schuster's 1600-meter relay team also finished third at the Big Meet.

Wheat (Pontiac, Mich.) set two Grand Valley State records at the GVSU Big Meet. Her 1600-meter relay team set a school and Laker Turf Building record by finishing first with a time of 3:47.08. The junior's time of 8.43 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles also took first place and set both a school and LTB record. Wheat's time in the hurdles automatically qualified her for the NCAA Indoor National Championships, while she is part of a provisionally qualified 1600-meter relay team.

Rutherford (West Branch, Mich.) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor National Championships with a throw of 44-2 in the shot put at the GVSU Big Meet. Rutherford, a sophomore, was one of three GVSU field athletes to hit qualifying marks at the Big Meet. She took third place in the shot put event.