Strong Weekend For Ferris State Track Teams In Final Tune-Up Prior To GLIAC Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's outdoor track and field squads held their final tune-up performances for the 2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships over the weekend, competing in two different West Michigan competitions.

The Bulldogs had selected student-athletes at both the Panther Invitational hosted by Davenport University along with the Grand Valley State Extra Weekend Meet. The two events marked FSU's final performances prior to next week's league championships.

FSU's Donis Harris competed at the GVSU event and placed fourth in the 5,000 meters, clocking 14:23.42 in the event. HIs time topped both is own school record in the event along with surpassing the NCAA Division II National Provisional Qualifying standard.

The Bulldogs' Brandon Wirth placed fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at GVSU (9:23.15) while Noah Griffith was 18th in the 1,500 meters (3:57.07).

For the women, Whitney Farrell placed ninth in the 3,000-meter steeple in the Grand Valley State meet, topping her own school record as well with a performance time of 11:02.94 in the race.

FSU's Danae Feldpausch was 14th in the 800 meters (2:16.18) while Sydney Kubiak came in 18th in the 5,000 meters (18:10.47).

Meanwhile, at the Davenport meet, FSU's Kyle Drouillard placed fourth in the men's hammer throw (169-1) and Bryce George came in fifth in the shot put (48-3.5). Aaron Pierce was fifth in the long jump (20-3.75) and Casey Bouman took fifth in the 3,000 steeplechase (10:13.84). Jackson Helmer placed seventh in the 1,500 meters (4:05.32) while Ethan Hamilton was eighth in the 800 meters (1:59.50). Noah Jones wound up 11th in the 200 meters (23.33).

The Bulldog women were led by Claudia Wilkinson, who won the high jump with an effort of 5-2.50. Nyah Tyron was third in the 400 hurdles (1:06.21) while Emma Stephayn placed third in the discus (129-3). She was also fifth in the hammer throw (154-5).

Ferris State's Becci Castillo took fifth place in the 5,000 meters (19:19.53) followed by teammates Jessica Durkee in sixth place (19:21.39), Diana Candela in seventh place (19:27.74) and Claudia Baryo in eighth place (19:40.37). Melanea Strauss finished sixth in the 1,500 meters (4:56.66) and Rebecca Marvin finished eighth in the discus (121-2).

The Bulldogs will take part in the 2023 GLIAC Championships May 3-5 in Caledonia.