FSU To Host GLIAC Outdoor Championships
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University Athletics
Department will serve as the host school for this spring's Great
Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Track and
Field Championships, which will be held May 5-7 at FSU's Top
Taggart Field.
The three-day meet will begin with day one action of the decathlon
and heptathlon competition on Wednesday (May 5) at 2 p.m.
(EDT). Action continues all day from 9 a.m. (EDT) to 8:30
p.m. (EDT) on Thursday (May 6) with Friday's (May 7) final day of
competition starting at 11 a.m. (EDT). The meet will wrap up
at approximately 3:30 p.m. (EDT) with the league awards ceremony
following the conclusion of the meet.
Due to the large number of
competitiors and events taking place, the athletics department is
also in need of volunteers to help staff the meet in various
shifts. Any interested persons should contact FSU Athletics
Director Tom Kirinovic or Associate AD Jon Coles at (231)
591-2860.
"We're excited to host the GLIAC Outdoor Championships once again
and this will be a great opportunity for fans to watch a number of
talented student-athletes compete for league championships,"
Kirinovic said. "This meet is a big undertaking and we're
looking for anyone interested to help volunteer in a number of
different ways."
The 38th annual men's event and the 30th annual women's outdoor
championships will feature 11 conference schools, including the
Ferris State men's and women's track squads. One of the premier
NCAA Division II conferences in the nation, the GLIAC holds
championships in 21 sports throughout the year. Conference members
slated to compete include Ferris State, Northwood, Grand Valley
State, Saginaw Valley State, Michigan Tech, Lake Superior State,
Ashland, Findlay, Northern Michigan and Hillsdale.
Ferris State last hosted the league outdoor meet in 2006 at Top
Taggart Field and this season marks the third time the GLIAC
Championships have been held in Big Rapids since 2001. However,
this year represents only the fourth time the Bulldogs have played
host to the event in the last 23 years as the event had not been
held in Big Rapids since May 1, 1987, prior to the 2001 meet.
Top Taggart Field serves as the site for the Bulldogs' home track
and field meets. The stadium, which also serves as home to
FSU’s varsity football program, was dedicated October 1957 in
honor of the school’s first official varsity football coach
and his contributions to the institution. The facility underwent a
multi-million dollar renovation in the spring of 1998, which
involved the installation of a 400-meter, eight-lane track with a
brick red urethane surface surrounding a top-of-the-line artificial
turf playing surface. Also, renovations were completed at that time
for two shot put circles, two long and triple jump pits, and a pair
of pole vault boxes. The facility also includes the three-story
Wheeler Pavilion, which was added in 2001 and features a ticket
office, club level along with a media/game operations area.
The facility underwent its latest upgrade in the summer of 2008 as
a new top of the line Mondo Ecofill artificial surface was
installed as part of a one-million dollar project. Additionally, a
video and message board was added to the west side of the
Wheeler Pavilion.
In addition to Top Taggart Field, throwing events will also be
held just south of the stadium on university practice fields.
The GLIAC Championships will represent the second Ferris home meet
of the 2010 campaign as FSU is also slated to host the annual
Bulldog Invitational on April 10 at Top Taggart Field.
More information on the meet will be available in the near future
at www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com.