Busy Weekend Of Action For Bulldog Track Squads At GVSU Big Meet

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field squads competed in one of the nation's largest collegiate events, the Grand Valley State Big Meet, over the weekend in Allendale.

Action took place on both Friday and Saturday at the Kelly Family Sports Center on the GVSU campus with student-athletes from schools across the country at all levels competing.

In Friday' s action, FSU's Whitney Farrell placed seventh in heat three of the women's 5,000 meters with a time of 17:53.42. Meanwhile, Melanea Strauss was 15th in heat four, clocked in 18:33.13 overall.

In Friday's men's action, the Bulldogs' Cooper Sorsen came in second in heat six of the 5,000 meters (14:54.04) with Ben Knuth fifth in heat 10 (15:42.00) and Ryan Ososki 10th in heat nine (15:35.69). Brendan Cairney placed 19th heat five (15:35.56) with FSU's second-best overall time on the day and Nathan Alford came in 10th in heat 10 (15:45.90) with Brandon Wirth 22nd in heat nine (16:00.32).

A majority of FSU's student-athletes competed in Saturday's event. Abigail Winkle placed sixth overall in the women's 400 meters (57.83) and Danae Feldpausch finished 17th in the 800 meters (2:17.45) for the women. Additionally, Hanna Brock came in 14th in the mile run (5:09.65) and Whitney Farrell was 10th in the 3,000 meters (10:15.93) with Brock 13th (10:32.25).

Ferris State also placed ninth in the women's 4x400-meter relay (4:03.99) with a quartet of Winkle, Feldpausch, Angela Kotecki and Nyah Tyron. In the field events, Claudia Wilkinson placed third in the high jump invite field (5-5) and Rebecca Marvin was 15th in the weight throw (43-5).

In Saturday's men's action, FSU's Cooper Sorsen was fifth in the 3,000 meters (8:29.27) and Chase Carter was 14th in the 60 meters (7.00). Blaine Rogers came in 16th in the 60-meter hurdles (8.97) and Levi Tuinstra was 16th in the high jump (5-7). Devin Dennison placed 14th in the weight throw (49-9).

The Bulldogs are next in action on Friday (Feb. 16) at the Saginaw Valley State Tune-Up Meet in University Center. FSU then heads back to the same spot for the 2024 GLIAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 24-25.