Allendale, MI - It is no mistake that each week a new track and field article speaks about records being broken and new personal bests by Grace athletes. The team is truly making a statement this season.  Just when it may seem that they could do no better, the Tigers returned to GVSU on Saturday for their last regular season meet and left with 5 new personal best performances and 3 shattered school records.  

The GVSU "Extra Weekend Meet" featured teams from MSU, UofM, Notre Dame, Butler, EMU, GVSU, Ferris St., Oakland and many more, and, in all but two events, Grace athletes beat other competitors in their respective events. 

This year's team is here to compete and they are making a statement to their doubters. 

Meet Highlights:

• Freshman Austin Engel (Spring Lake, MI) destroyed the previous school record in pole vault by clearing 3.71m on his first attempt at the height.  This was within 0.14m of the automatic qualifying standard for the NCCAA National Championships, as well.  Engel finished 10th overall in the open pole vault competition and is currently ranked #18 in the nation for the event. 

• Sophomore Aidan Gansert (Fort Wayne, IN) obliterated his own school record in shot put by throwing 12.50m, coming within 0.35m of the NCCAA automatic qualifying standard.  Gansert's old record for outdoor shot put was 11.85m. 

• Senior Kent Herring (Evart, MI) took down his own school record in the 400m dash, which had stood since 2023 by finishing in 55.18 seconds.  This is the fastest 400m time for any Grace athlete in either indoor or outdoor track and is a new lifetime best for Herring. 

• Freshman Jude Vargo (Penn Hills, PA) dropped almost 2 seconds from his previous best time in the 400m, finishing in a time of 57.88 seconds.  He then came back later in the meet to destroy his previous best time in the 200m dash by almost a full second, crossing the line in 25.74 seconds. 

• Freshman Kaylee Morris (Mancelona, MI) narrowly missed her season best time in the 100m dash by 0.01 seconds, finishing in a time of 13.86 seconds.

• Senior Ben Bird (Allendale, MI) ran his final race for the Tigers after a dedicated four-year career for Grace.  Bird's 1500m race was completed in a time of 5:13.  

• Ian Hinkle (Grand Ledge, MI) competed in the 3,000m Steeplechase race and finished in a time of 10:59.

With Grace's graduation ceremony scheduled for May 3, the track and field team is excited to watch three of their amazing seniors walk the stage next Saturday.  Kent Herring, Ben Bird, and Alyssa Gennety (who was unable to compete most of this season due to injury) will be deeply missed by their teammates as they have been the heart and soul of the cross country and track teams for the past few years.  Their teammates and coaches are grateful for the culture and expectations these three senior athletes have set at Grace.  Their leadership, mentorship, and friendship was simply the best anyone could have asked for.  They truly worked hard, valued others, and glorified God during their time on the cross country and track teams. 

Now the track and field squads will turn their attention to the NCCAA Outdoor T&F National Championships on May 7-9th in Columbia, South Carolina.  Kent Herring earned his qualifying spot in the men's decathlon with his effort at Davenport University two weeks ago.  Aidan Gansert (shot put), Austin Engel (pole vault), Ian Hinkle (steeplechase), and Kaylee Morris (100m) have all earned provisional right of membership entries for the meet, as well.