May 19, 2003

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State heads to the 2003 NCAA DII National Championships with 12 different athletes who will compete in 16 events over the weekend. The event starts on Thursday, May 22, and runs through Saturday, May 24 at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Lakers earned an 11th place finish on the women's side at the 2002 Outdoor Championships, while the men took 48th. GVSU won both the men's and women's Outdoor GLIAC titles and also placed seventh at the this season's Indoor Nationals.

Below is some career information on all of the Laker athletes that have qualified for nationals.

Women

Ashley Thomas - 2003 GLIAC Indoor and Outdoor Champion in the 400 as a freshman...member of the the 4 x 400 relay squad which also won the GLIAC title...2003 All-American in the indoor 4 x 400.

Stephanie Kuhlman - Enters nationals with the second seed time in the 800 at 2:06.57...Set the NCAA DII record in the indoor 800 with a time of 2:05.75...Won the 800 at the 2003 GLIAC Championships...member of the the 4 x 400 relay squad which also won the GLIAC title...Two-time All-American in the 4 x 400.

Krista O'Dell - Won the 1,500 at the 2003 GLIAC Championships...2003 All-American in the indoor mile and 5000 meters...2002 All-American in the indoor mile...2002 Cross Country All-American.

Natalie Ewing - Posted the third fastest qualifying times of the year in the 3000 and the 5000...set GVSU record in the 3000 at 9:45.57 and the 5000 at 16:41.50...All-American at the 2002 Outdoor Championships with a second place finish in the 3000...2003 GLIAC Champion in the 3000 meters...Two-Time Cross Country All-American.

Shannon Antvelink - 2002 National Finalist in 1500 meters...2003 Honorable Mention All-GLIAC in the 1500 meter...Two-Time Cross Country All-American...2001 All-American indoor mile.

Leanne Budde - Second Team All-GLIAC honors in steeplechase (11:13.30)...Third Team All-GLIAC in the 5000 meters with a time of 17:56.01.

Megan Doerr - Second Team All-GLIAC honoree in the 5000 meter and Third Team All-GLIAC in the steeplechase.

Jeannette Seckinger - National Finalist in 10,000 at the 2002 NCAA Championships...Earned Second Team All-GLIAC honors in 2002 & 2003 in the 10,000 meters...Holds school record in 10,000 at 36:39.15...2002 Cross Country All-American.

Alex Baker - 2003 GLIAC Champion in the 400 hurdles and 100 hurdles...Holds GVSU record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01.34...member of the the 4 x 400 relay squad which also won the GLIAC title...2003 Indoor All-American in the 4 x 400.

Erica Helmila - 2003 GLIAC Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 relay team...Two-Time All-American as a member of the 4 x 400 team.

Men

Ben Hirdes - Enters NCAA Championships with top qualifing mark in the pole vault at 17'1, which also set the school record...2002 Outdoor All-American in pole vault and 2001 & 2002 Indoor All-American.

Dave Siik - Set GVSU record in the 800 with a time of 1:51.91 and was a Second Team All-GLIAC honoree.

Complete list of GVSU athletes that qualified for nationals with event, mark and national ranking.