Track and field competes in GVSU Open

The Grand Valley State track and field team held the GVSU Open at home in the Kelly Family Sports Center on Friday, Jan. 19, and both the men’s and women’s teams finished the meet with victories. The men dominated the rest of the competition, scoring 141 points as a team. The second-place team finished with 67. The women won the meet in similar fashion, scoring 126, with the second-place team only having 78. 

The men’s side had seven first-place finishers in the meet: Ethan Noble, who finished first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.92; Justin Scavarda, who won first in shot put with a throw of 16.6 meters; Jeremiah Davis in the 200-meter with a time of 21.97; Thomas Capers in the 400-meter with a time of 49.35; Joe Renner in the 800-meter with a time of 1:53.83; Dennis Mbuta, who came in first in the mile with a time of 4:11.8; and Isaiah Thomas, who finished first in the long jump with a jump of 7.33 meters. 

Other top-five finishers on the men’s side were Tyler Kirkwood, who finished second in the 60-meter hurdles; Tommy Cwiok, who finished fourth in the shot put; Scavarda, who finished third in the weight throw; Hunter Harding, who finished fifth in the weight throw; Nick Salomon, who finished fifth in the 600-meter; Noble, who finished third in the 200-meter; and Andrew McFarland, who finished second in the 400-meter.

The women had six first-place finishers: Lauren Sayre in the high jump with 1.94 meters; Dajsha Avery in the shot put with a throw of 13.79 meters; Bobbie Goodwin in the weight throw with a throw of 18.42 meters; Angela Ritter in the 400-meter, finishing with a time of 56.79; Jessica Eby in the 600-meter with a time of 1:36.92; and Allie Ludge in the 800-meter with a time of 2:10.81. 

Other top-five finishers on the women’s side were Angelica Floyd, who finished third in the 60-meter; Tiara Wiggins, who finished second in the 60-meter hurdles; Jessica Tea-Hui, who finished third in the high jump; and Mariah Mansperger, who finished fourth in the shot put and finished second in weight throw.

The Lakers are hosting the GVSU Lints Alumni Meet next weekend at home. 

GVSU track and field runners earn nominations for HERO of the Week

Two Grand Valley State track and field runners have been nominated for the “HERO Sports” HERO of the Week Award. Angela Ritter and Justin Scavarda were nominated for the award after turning in big performances this past weekend. Ritter was nominated after a first-place finish and turning in a GLIAC-best 60-meter dash time of 7.59. Scavarda was nominated after a pair of top-two finishes in the weight throw and shot put. Fan voting for the award is open until 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan 26. 

GVSU Rifle Club athletes compete in Junior Olympic Qualifier

The Grand Valley State Rifle Club sent two shooters to the State of Michigan USA Shooting Junior Olympic Qualifier. Alexander Straith and Joseph Lentine were the two shooters who participated. 

Straith turned in a solid performance, finishing fourth in the smallbore rifle with a score of 533 and fourth in the air rifle with a score of 548. Lentine finished sixth in the smallbore competition and fifth in the air rifle with a score of 547. 

Unfortunately, the scores were not high enough for the shooters to qualify for the Junior Olympics. The Rifle Club will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 25, in the NRA Intercollegiate Sectional Matches.