GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its fifth weekly awards of the 2020-21 outdoor track and field season. Grand Valley St. secured both weekly awards on the women's side, with senior Jessica Gockley earning track athlete of the week and classmate Elli Kimes securing field athlete of the week. On the men's side, Ashland senior Trevor Bassitt was selected Men's Track Athlete of the Week, while Grand Valley St. senior Justin Scavarda was awarded Field athlete of the Week.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Jessica Gockley, Grand Valley St.
Senior Jessica Gockley collected the GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week honor following her performance at the EKU Invitational. The Traverse City native crossed the 5,000m line in 16:34.92, good for eighth-place and the seventh-best time of the division this season. This is the second time this season that Gockley has earned the weekly accolade.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Elli Kimes, Grand Valley St.
Elli Kimes cleared an outdoor personal best and automatic mark of 4.21m at the Al Owens Classic on Saturday. The Laker senior earned the No. 2 program mark – which she originally held at 4.10m – and took over the second-best season clear in Division II. This is the fifth time this year that Kimes has earned the GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week mention.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Trevor Bassitt, Ashland
As announced by the GLIAC on Tuesday (April 20) morning, Bassitt earned the honor once again thanks to a strong showing at Tiffin’s Reggie Thomas Classic. In winning the men’s 400-meter dash in 46.63 seconds, as part of the winning men’s 4x400 relay (3:08.78), and thanks to his 10.54 seconds in the 100 dash prelims, Bassitt landed three more nationals marks for the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships (May 27-29 at Grand Valley State). Bassitt also won the men’s 110 hurdles (13.72 seconds) at Tiffin.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Justin Scavarda, Grand Valley St.
Justin Scavarda continued to move up the all-time Laker annals as he earned the No. 2 spot in program history in the shot put and discus. The Laker senior earned automatic qualifications and personal bests at the Al Owens Classic with a shot put mark of 18.57m and a discus throw of 56.54m, to rank in the top-five in the division this season for both events. Scavarda posted a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw with a launch of 58.13m to conclude the weekend. This is the third time this year that Scavarda has been named the GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week.
