Bulldogs Record Two National-Qualifying Performances At GVSU Last Chance Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University outdoor track and field teams had a pair of national-qualifying performances in the Grand Valley State Last Chance meet held on Friday (May 10) in Allendale.

The meet represents one of the final opportunities student-athletes have to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships, which will take place May 23-25 in Pueblo, Colo.  The official list of national qualifiers and meet entries will be announced this coming week.

FSU's Jessica Pilling came away with a first-place finish in the women's hammer throw while also surpassing the national provisional qualifying standard with a toss of 186-3.

Meanwhile, Alyssa Osika took runner-up honors in the 800 meters with an NCAA national provisional qualifying time of 2:11.96.

On the men's side, FSU's Ryan Chute placed fifth overall in the 1,500 meters while narrowly missing the national provisional qualifying mark with a time of 3:52.16.  Blake Garver was 12th (3:57.47) and Connor LaRowe 13th (3:58.19) in the same event.

Ferris State's Ryan Stankey placed fourth in the shot put (43-3.75) along with 10th in the discus (137-9).

Thomas Lyons took seventh place in the 200 meters (23.04) and Austin Syrek came in ninth (23.58).  Syrek was 14th in the 400 meters (52.20) with Lyons coming in 15th (53.11).

The Bulldogs' Brandon Cushman came away with a ninth-place finish in the 5,000 meters (15:16.40) and Bill King was 16th (15:26.16) in the event.

Finally, Lucas Johnson finished 11th in the hammer throw (169-7).