John Keating to speak at GVSU

John Keating, the host of the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers broadcasts on Fox Sports Detroit, will be speaking on the Grand Valley State University Allendale Campus Friday, Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. in Lake Superior Hall Room 174. The talk will last until approximately 5 p.m.

Keating, a GVSU alumnus, will talk about his experience in the sports journalism business with insights, stories and a question-and-answer session at the end of the talk. He will offer a unique perspective for aspiring sports journalists on how to get a head start in the industry.

Keating’s broadcasting career started at GVSU when he was a broadcaster on WSRX, GVSU’s student run radio station. He now hosts pre-game and post-game shows for the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, and he even served as a temporary color analyst in 2009 for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network.

Track and Field women rank No. 1, men No. 4 nationally

In the most recent USTFCCCA national poll, the Grand Valley State women’s track and field team ranked first nationally while the men’s team pulled in the fourth spot. The men’s team stayed put at the fourth spot from the previous rankings, but the women jumped one spot ahead of the previous No. 1 ranked team Pittsburg State.

The women’s team has six athletes or relay teams that rank in the top-five nationally in their events. Senior Kendra Foley holds the top time in Division II in the 5000m and ranks second in the mile. Rachael Walters ranks third in the 800m, Kathryn Mills is third in high jump and Stacey Metzger ranks fourth in the 5000m. The 4x400m team also holds the third best time nationally.

Sitting as the fourth ranked team, the men’s team trail two GLIAC rivals, Ashland and Tiffin, who sit at No. 1 and 2 respectively. The Lakers also trail the No. 3 ranked Adams State. GVSU is followed by No. 5 ranked Texas A&M Commerce.

Both the men and women will host the GVSU Mike Lints Alumni Open Saturday, Jan. 28 at 1 p.m.

Two GVSU athletes named GLIAC Players of the Week

Grand Valley State athletics represented two athletes in the GLIAC Players of the Week awards. Track and field star Kendra Foley and swimming and diving senior Leonie Van Noort both earned player of the week laurels for their performances last week.

For the second time this season, Van Noort is taking home a GLIAC Player of the Week honor. She led the Lakers to a victory over Indianapolis by shattering a pool record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:55.59. Van Noort finished first in the 100 backstroke (58.50) and swam the fourth leg of the 200 medley relay, helping the Lakers to another first place finish in that race.

Foley, a winner of numerous GLIAC Player of the Week honors, earned yet another award after finishing fourth place in the mile at the GVSU Open. Her time of 4:49.64 earned her a NCAA provisional mark. She was the highest placing Division II athlete in the event.