Grand Valley State Sweeps 2018 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships

Grand Valley State Sweeps 2018 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships

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2018 GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Central

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers swepted the 2018 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships which took place Feb 24 & 25 on the campus of Grand Valley State University inside the Kelly Family Sports Center. The competition featured nearly 500 student-athletes from 10 women's teams and eight men's programs in one of the most highly anticipated NCAA Division II meets throughout the country.

The GVSU women earned the conference indoor title for the 19th consecutive season, while the men hoisted the conference title for the eighth time in nine seasons and 17th time in 19 years. The Lakers posted a 253.5 point total to better Ashland in second place with 117 points, while Northern Michigan fnished third. In the men's race, GVSU scored 186 points to make a late surge to defeat Tiffin in second with 170 points with Ashland scoring 117 points for third position.

2018 GLIAC INDOOR TRACK & FIELD AWARDS

Men's Awards
Track Athlete of the Year: Myles Pringle - Ashland
Field Athlete of the Year: Alex Hil - Ashland
Track Athlete of the Meet: Myles Pringle - Ashland
Field Athlete of the Meet: Cameron Burrows - Tiffin
High Point Athlete of the Meet: Myles Pringle - Ashland (27.5 points)
Freshman Field Athlete of the Meet: Brent Fairbanks - Ashland
Freshman Track Athlete of the Meet: Mason Phillips - Northwood
Coach of the Year: Jerry Baltes - Grand Valley State
All-Conference Awards

Women's Awards
Track Athlete of the Year: Rachael Walters - Grand Valley State
Field Athlete of the Year: Bobbie Goodwin - Grand Valley State
Track Athlete of the Meet: Rachael Walters - Grand Valley State
Field Athlete of the Meet: Gianna Dipippo - Ashland
High Point Athlete of the Meet: Angela Ritter - Grand Valley State (20.5 points)
Freshman Field Athlete of the Meet: Ellie Kimes - Grand Valley State
Freshman Track Athlete of the Meet: Jessica Eby - Grand Valley State
Coach of the Year: Jerry Baltes - Grand Valley State
All-Conference Awards

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DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Saginaw Valley junior Noah VanderVeen captured the first individual title of Sunday action with a triumph in the Men's High Jump as he outlasted the competition clearing 2.12 meters ahead of Cameron Burrows from Tiffin in second and Jon Cok of Ferris State in third.

Ashland freshman Gianna Dipippo garnered top honors in the Women's Shot Put with a mark of 14.42 meters to stand atop the podium over GVSU throwers Dajsha Avery and Erika Lechner.

Saginaw Valley swept the awards podium in the Men's Heptathlon with Andrew Mudd leading the way in GLIAC record setting fashion with 5,398 points while his teammates Sam Black and Joe Thwing joined him on the podium in second and third. 

Tiffin's James Ngandu set a pair of GLIAC records on Sunday, including a 4:04.34 time in the Men's Mile as well as 8:05.52 record pace to earn the top prize in the Men's 3,000 Meter Run.

GVSU's Rachael Walters performanced at a record time in the Women's 800 Meter as she crossed the line in 2:08.14 on her way to being named GLIAC Track Athlete of the Meet and of the Year. Walters and her teammates Jessica Eby, Chant'e Roberts, and Angela Ritter also broke the GLIAC record in the Women's 4x400 Relay in a time of 3:43.38.

Ashland superstar Myles Pringle also set a GLIAC record in the Men's 400 Dash with a blazing speed of 46.73 on his way to earning a trio of awards: GLIAC High Point Athlete of the Meet, GLIAC Track Athlete of the Meet and GLIAC Track Athlete of the Year. 

Stay tuned to @GLIACsports on Twitter and @GLIACsports on Instagram & Snapchat for coverage throughout the Championships.