GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2024 indoor track & field athletes of the year, as voted on by the conference coaches following the NCAA Division II Championships.

Grand Valley State student-athletes were selected for each of the four conference honors. Caleb Futter earned men's track athlete of the year for the second consecutive season and Klaudia O'Malley won women's track athlete of the year. Jaivon Harrison received men's field athlete of the year, while Erika Beistle was chosen as women's field athlete of the year.

Grand Valley State head coach Jerry Baltes was recognized as coach of the year for his leadership of both the Lakers' men's and women's teams.

Baltes finished the 2024 indoor season with a NCAA Division II runner-up title on the men’s side, recording a team score of 56.5 points. He had three athletes earn an individual National Champion title in the mile, high jump and shot put. He brought 12 individual entries to the NCAA Championships, including a 4x400 relay and Distance Medley Relay team and received nine All-America honors. At the 2024 GLIAC Championships, the Laker men claimed their 23rd GLIAC title and the coaching staff earned the GLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Baltes also finished the 2024 indoor season with a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships on the women’s side, recording a team score of 48 points. He had one athlete earn an individual National Champion title in shot put. Baltes had 18 individual entries to the NCAA Championships, including a 4x400 relay and Distance Medley Relay team and received 11 All-America honors. At the 2024 GLIAC Championships, the Laker women claimed their 25th consecutive GLIAC title and the coaching staff earned the GLIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Grand Valley State assistant coaches Steve Jones (men) and Matt Conly (women) were also honored.

At the GLIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, Jones, the Lakers' jumps coach, saw his athletes score 61 points. He had six athletes achieve five NCAA provisional marks. At the NCAA Championships, Jones' athletes finished first, second and sixth in the men's high jump, totaling 20.5 team points. 

Conly, GVSU's throws coach, led a group of athletes that scored 51 points in two events at the GLIAC Championships. In all, seven athletes notched seven NCAA provisional marks. At the NCAA Championships, Conly's athletes finished fourth and 14th in the weight throw and first, seventh, 13th and 15th in the shot put, collecting a total of 17 points. 

2024 GLIAC MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Jaivon Harrison, Grand Valley State Jaivon Harrison closes out the 2024 Indoor Track and Field season as the NCAA Division II National Champion in the men’s high jump, where he cleared a height of 2.19m. Harrison had a clean progression up until 2.22m where he received his first miss of the meet. The Grand Valley State Laker men earned the 2024 NCAA DII National Runner-Up title with a team school of 56.5 points. At the 2024 GLIAC Championships, Harrison earned first place with a new personal-best and GLIAC Meet record of 2.23m. Additionally, Harrison earned fifth place at the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this season, clearing a height of 2.22m. Harrison currently finds himself tied for the Grand Valley State school record, ranks first in Division II and fourth in All-Collegiate Divisions with a height of 2.23m.

2024 GLIAC WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Erika Beistle, Grand Valley State Erika Beistle concluded the 2024 Indoor Track and Field season as the NCAA Division II National Champion in the women’s shot. Beistle recorded a throw of 16.37m, 2.5 feet further than the second place finisher. The Grand Valley State women’s program earned a fourth place finish overall at the 2024 NCAA Division II Nationals, with a team score of 48 points. At the 2024, GLIAC Championships, Beistle finished in first place with a throw of 14.72m, as the Lakers claimed their 25 th consecutive team title. Additionally, Beistle earned five first place finished this year and currently ranks first in Division II and second All-Time in Grand Valley State history with a personal-best throw of 16.77m.