FSU Opens GLIAC Championships In Midland

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's track and field squads opened action in the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Championships on Thursday (May 5) in Midland, Mich.

The Bulldog women tallied 18 points in seven scoring events and currently stand fifth overall among the 11 schools heading into Friday's (May 5) final day of competition on Fisher Track at Northwood University's Hantz Stadium.  Defending champion Grand Valley State leads the women's field with 79 points overall.

Freshman Jessica Pilling highlighted the day for the Bulldogs as she claimed the GLIAC Championship in the women's hammer throw (179-9) while reaching an NCAA Division II national qualifying mark.

Sophomore Anna Rudd took fourth place in the 10,000 meters (37:08.74) while adding five scoring points for the Bulldogs.

Finally, freshman Christa Cwiek accounted for FSU's remaining three points on Thursday as she came in sixth overall in the javelin (110-10).

Several other Bulldog women's competitors also advanced to their respective finals following opening-round competition. 

Sophomore Zoey Hohmann qualified for the finals in the 400 meters as she posted the second-best preliminary time (57.21) to reach Friday's event final.  She also advanced in the 200 meters (25.40) with the seventh-fastest time.

Three Bulldog runners reached the finals of the 1,500 meters as freshman Samantha Johnson was fourth overall (4:42.93), sophomore Alyssa Osika came in sixth (4:43.13) and senior Paige Onweller placed eighth (4:43.63) during the prelims.

On the men's side, sophomore Ryan Chute led Ferris State as he moved into the finals of the 1,500 meters by recording the third-fastest preliminary time (3:57.15) on Thursday.  Freshman Alex Bladecki also advanced to the finals in the same event with the 12th-best time (4:07.1).

Sophomore David Silversmith placed eighth overall in the 10,000 meters (31:32.52) to account for the Bulldogs' lone point of the day in men's action.  Freshman Michael Schulte and junior Tyler Crossman took 10th (31:45.28) and 11th (32:06.12) places, respectively, in the same race.

Finally, sophomore J.J. Vandenburg wound up 11th overall in the men's hammer throw (167-4).

Friday's final day of action begins at 10:30 a.m. (ET) with the meet slated to conclude at approximately 5 p.m. (ET).