March 8, 2005

Grand Valley State's men's and women's track and field teams will have 21 student-athletes competing at the 2005 NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field National Championships this weekend. Eleven men and 10 women will represent GVSU in Boston, Mass. beginning Friday, March 11. The 21 athletes is the most Grand Valley has ever qualified for the National Championships. Last year, the Lakers sent eight athletes to the Championships.

On the women's side, the distance medley relay team of seniors Krista O'Dell, Stephanie Kuhlman, Kristen Kulczycki, and junior Mandi Zemba qualified for the National Championships. O'Dell and Zemba will also run the mile, while O'Dell will compete in the 5,000 meter run as well. Kuhlman will take part in the 800 meter run, while frshman Karlie Singleton will run the 5,000. Sophomore Rachel Duthler and freshman Lindsey Jones both qualified to compete in the pole vault. Sophomore Morgan Acre will compete in the weight throw, while senior Katie Corner will throw the shot put. Sophomore Jennifer O'Shesky will be competing in the 55 meter hurdles and the long jump.

Senior Don Wilkins, senior Ryan Cole, and redshirt freshman Nate Peck will all be racing in the 5,000 meter run, while Wilkins, Peck, junior Kenny Coleman, and sophomore John Collins are representing GVSU as the distance medley relay team. Peck also qualified in the mile run and Coleman will compete in the 400 meter dash. Collins will be competing in the 800 meter run, while freshman Dan Jackson qualified in the 60 meter hurdles. Sophomores John Ybarra and Nick Natale will take part in the shot put and Natale and sophomore Charles Smith qualified in the weight throw. Senior Kirk Manchip will compete in both the long jump and the triple jump amd junior Brian Beach will represent the Lakers in the pole vault.

"We are excited about this opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the nation," said head coach Jerry Baltes. "This is the most athletes we have ever taken to an indoor national championship. We feel we can do some positive things if we simply stay focused on the task at hand."

Both teams are currently ranked #1 in the nation in the power rankings.Click on the link below for complete rankings:
Rankings

Click on the link below for all NCAA National Championship information, including the schedule and results:
Championship Information