Ferris State Posts Three NCAA-Qualifying Performances In GVSU Tune-Up Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - A selected number of Ferris State University men's and women's indoor track and field athletes competed for the final time prior to the 2014 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Indoor Championships as FSU took part in the Grand Valley State Tune-Up meet on Friday (Feb. 21) night in Allendale.

The event took place inside the Kelly Family Sports Center with 575 athletes participating over 734 entries. The field included participants from such schools as FSU, GVSU, Central Michigan, Valparaiso, St. Francis, Calvin, Hope, Saginaw Valley State and more.

Despite the limited number of competitors, the Bulldogs still had three athletes reach NCAA National Qualifying performances in their respective events.

The Bulldogs' Alyssa Osika won the 800 meters and topped a NCAA national provisional mark with a showing of 2:14.58 in the event. She was one of four FSU athletes to place in the top eight of the event as senior Anna Rudd was fifth (2:20.79), Rachel Wood came in sixth (2:21.10) and Breeann Ovokaitys took eighth place (2:22.89).

Rudd also reached a national provisional time as she finished second overall in the mile run (4:56.76). Ovokaitys placed fourth in the field (5:02.38) and also surpassed the NCAA-qualifying time for the first time.

Shea Van Klompenberg came in fourth overall in the 400 meters (58.97) with teammate Gabby Bauer placing sixth in the same race (59.79). Emily Haynes was fifth overall in the 5,000 meters (18:38.90).

Ferris State also placed third in the women's 4x400-meter relay (4:04.22) with a contingent consisting of Van Klompenberg, Osika, Raven Blaser and Baur. A second Bulldog foursome was sixth in the race.

On the men's side, the Bulldogs' Ryan Stankey led the way as he placed fifth overall in the shot put (48-3.50).

Senior Spencer Gerber came in eighth overall in the mile run (4:19.97) with Andrew Harper also placing eighth in the 3,000 meters (8:42.67). David Jimpkoski was eighth in the weight throw (52-11.00).

Ferris State finished fifth in the men's 4x400-meter relay (3:32.27) with a quartet of Brian Murphy, Connor LaRowe, Hayden Francisco and Hunter Redman.

FSU will next take part in the 2014 GLIAC Indoor Championships, which will be held at Hillsdale College next Saturday and Sunday (March 1-2).