GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced weekly awards following the seventh weekend of the 2017-18 indoor track and field season. In women's competition, Grand Valley State's 4x400 relay team consisting of Chant’e Roberts, Rachael Walters, Angela Ritter and Nicole Sreenan earned GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week honors, while Ashland redshirt freshman Gianna DiPippo captured GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week accolades. On the men's side, GVSU's Distance Medley Relay team of Dennis Mbuta, Jaylin Golson, Nick Saloman and Wuoi Mach earned GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week distinction, while Ashland sophomore Alex Hill captured GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week recognition.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK - Grand Valley State 4x400 Relay
The Grand Valley State women’s 4x400 relay team set an NCAA automatic time and a new indoor school record of 3:42.38, along with a first place finish among Division II teams during the GVSU Big Meet-Friday this past weekend. The team, which was composed of Chant’e Roberts, Rachael Walters, Angela Ritter and Nicole Sreenan, now, has the fastest time in the conference and Division II.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Gianna Dipippo, Ashland
Ashland redshirt freshman Gianna DiPippo won Friday’s event with a top effort of 18.69 meters/61-feet-4 – a provisional improvement and career-best toss by nine-tenths of a meter. That distance moved DiPippo into the No. 10 spot in the country.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETES OF THE WEEK - Grand Valley State Distance Medley Relay
The Grand Valley State men’s medley distance relay team made up of Dennis Mbuta, Jaylin Golson, Nick Saloman and Wuoi Mach hit an automatic time of 9:46.76 in the DMR race, en route to a first place finish during the GVSU Big Meet-Saturday this past weekend. The relay team‘s time was also a GVSU indoor school record and a Kelly Family Sport Center record as well. The Lakers’ time is now the fastest time in the GLIAC and the second fastest in Division II.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Alex Hill, Ashland
Ashland sophomore Alex Hill improved upon his previous automatic-qualifying nationals mark, earning first place with a top heave of 22.10 meters/72-feet-6¼. With that, Hill became the sixth-best men’s indoor weight thrower in D-II history. Hill is the No. 1 men’s weight thrower in D-II this season, nearly a full meter ahead of the No. 2 thrower.