GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its second weekly awards of the 2023-24 outdoor track & field season. Grand Valley State earned two awards, with freshman Andrew Pizzico (men's track) and junior Erika Beistle (women's field) receiving recognition. Ferris State sophomore Whitney Farrell was named women's track athlete of the week while Purdue Northwest sophomore D'Shawn Dorsey was selected and men's field athlete of the week.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Andrew Pizzico, Grand Valley State
Freshman Andrew Pizzico, earns his first GLIAC Track Athlete of the Week honors in his Laker career after competing at the GVSU Early Meet last weekend. Pizzico finished in first place in the men's 200m, recording a new personal-best time of 21.68 and fourth in the 100m with a time of 10.92.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Whitney Farrell, Ferris State
Ferris State University's Whitney Farrell broke her own school record and surpassed the NCAA Division II National Provisional Qualifying time with a first-place performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday (April 6) at the Golden Grizzy Invite hosted by Oakland University in Rochester. Farrell was clocked in 10:56.84 and won the event by nearly eight seconds. The nine runners in the field included six NCAA Division I athletes. Her performance represented the first national qualifying performance of the spring for the Bulldog women's track and field squad.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - D'Shawn Dorsey, Purdue Northwest
D’Shawn Dorsey helped guide the Pride to an impressive showing at the GVSU Early Meet this past weekend. Dorsey took home first place in the men’s high jump event with an incredible 2.04 meters mark that also put him in the NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard range for men’s high jump.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Erika Beistle, Grand Valley State
Erika Beistle earns her first GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week honors in the 2024 outdoor season after finishing in second place in the women's discus at the GVSU Early Meet. Beistle threw a new personal-best of 55.31m, approximately 2.29m better than her previous best. Currently, Beistle ranks first in Division II in the women's discus.
