Sports

Indoor track team's travels net second place finish

By Aaron Brandt GVL Staff Writer
2/7/2010

The Grand Valley State University men's and women's indoor track teams took the show on the road for the first time this season last weekend.

GVSU competed in both the Findlay Open and the DII Challenge, each held at the University of Findlay on Friday and Saturday. The Findlay Open was unscored, but the teams finished second to Lincoln University the next day at the DII Challenge.

"Lincoln is a pretty darn good team on both sides and we didn't run any of our distance runners to get them ready for next week, so it would have been a little different outcome," said GVSU head coach Jerry Baltes. "Everyone has to keep getting better across the board from here to conference to nationals."

At the Findlay Open, sophomore thrower Matt Armstrong broke the GVSU school record in the shot put elite with a throw of 57 feet 5.75 inches, beating graduate Aleksas Abromavicius' mark by more than 5 inches. Freshman Donny Stiffler won the shot put with a toss of 54 feet 1.25 inches, which provisionally qualified him for the NCAA Championships.

The meet marked the first time all season the team competed outside of the Laker Turf Building, which required a period of adjustment, said senior pole vaulter Matt Gordeneer.

"It was hard to get used to their 200-meter track for a lot of people, and the atmosphere was a little more congested," he said. "It was a new feeling to get out of the Turf Building and just being at the meet for two days took a toll on a lot of people."

The second day was a challenge for those who competed in both meets, said senior thrower Emily Fox.

"We were all kind of dragging (Saturday) from the lack of sleep, so I don't think any of us did as well, but we still competed alright," she said. "Everyone is still getting used to traveling."

Despite the adjustments, the team managed to finish several Lakers in top places.

Senior Nate Miller won the high jump and Gordoneer took first place in the pole vault. Senior Peter Antor also won the heptathlon with a point total of 4,524.

On the women's side, sophomore Chanelle Caldwell took first place in the 800 meter with a time of 2:13.86.

The distance medley relay team of Lauren Bergstrom, Kayla Vallar, Ashley Botham and Karie McDonald won with a time of 11:51.60.

Beating GLIAC competition was a highlight for both teams, despite finishing second overall, Fox said.

"Obviously our biggest rival is Ashland (University) and I think we came out on top, so hopefully when we have our whole team together, healthy and on track for conference, we can get the win," she said. "We have a meet next weekend at home where we have the top people coming from all over the country, but I think we are definitely in good position to step it up in conference."

Coming up, the teams will head home for the GVSU Big Meet on Friday in the Turf Building, where Baltes said he expects to see the fruits of the team's season-long labor come forth.

"We have one week left to freshen up before the conference meet, so the Big Meet is really our last chance before conference," he said. "It's our big opportunity to get some NCAA qualifying marks and run against some great competition, so we need to be ready and have great performances across the board."

abrandt@lanthorn.com

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