As the indoor season came to a close, Saturday’s NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships provided a fitting finale for two throwers from the Grand Valley State University Men’s Track and Field team.

Junior throwers Daniel Vanek and Matt Armstrong have performed well for the Lakers throughout the indoor season in the shot put – Vanek set a new school-record earlier in the year with a throw of 61 feet against Saginaw Valley State University.

The pair took the top two spots in shot put twice this season with Vanek taking first and Armstrong second in the GLIAC Conference championships and in the dual meet with SVSU.

In the end, just four inches separated the two at the Division II Championships. Vanek took second place with a throw of 60-11.25 and Armstrong followed behind in third with a toss of 60-7.25.

Vanek earned eight team points for his second-place finish with Armstrong adding an additional six. The throwers combined points were enough to land the Lakers in 20th place overall.

Armstrong threw a new personal record with his third-place throw and was happy that both he and Vanek scored points for GVSU.

“It feels good,” Armstrong said. “It’s what we’ve worked for all season, like as you get closer to the big meets, you lighten up the workload and get ready to compete at your highest level at the most important meet.”

Although Vanek took home a second-place finish on a national level, he was disappointed with fouling on his second throw, which he said was far enough to have been in the same range as the first place mark of 63-11. Vanek tried to stay in the ring but stepped over the toe board at the front of the throwing circle, thereby disqualifying what he said would have been his best throw.

“It’s okay, for the team, I’ll take it.” Vanek said. “But for myself, I’m not satisfied with this performance.”

Vanek said he is already motivated for the upcoming outdoor season and that his goals are set for a first place title when the season ends.

Even with the close finishes throughout the season, Armstrong said he and Vanek are more focused on scoring points for their team than worrying about who takes what place.

“We push each other, but at the same time at the meets, it’s not like we become worst enemies,” Vanek said. “It’s a good relationship. Like at the meets, we don’t get mad at each other. We just keep going cheering each other on.”

On top of their top three finishes, both Vanek and Armstrong also earned All-American honors from their performances.

Also representing the Lakers at the Championships, junior distance runner Tyler Emmorey finished 11th in the 5,000-meter run on Saturday with a time of 15:19.89.

The GVSU track and field team will travel to Palo Alto, Calif. to start the outdoor track season on Mar. 25 at the Stanford Invitational.

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