BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University track and field teams had three athletes complete the decathlon, for the men, and the heptathlon, for the women, today (May 6).  While the rest of the team members competed in prelims and some even competed in finals for their respective events.

For the men, competing in the decathlon, were junior Aaron Wilkins (Schoolcraft, Mich. / Schoolcraft HS) and freshman Tyler Grob (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney HS).  On the first day, Wilkins earned a fourth place finish in the high jump with a height of 1.74meters and a fifth place finish in the long jump with a distance of 5.79meters.  Grob, on the other hand, earned two third place finishes, one in the 100-meter dash timing in at 11.61 and the other in the 400-meter dash crossing the line at 51.91, and two second place finishes, one in the high jump with a height of 1.77meters and the other in the shot put with a toss of 11.46meters.  Wilkins and Grob were placed fourth and second after the first day, respectively.  The second day, Wilkins earned a first place finish in the pole vault with a height of 4.30meters, a second place finish in the 110-meter hurdles timing in at 16.94, and also placed third in the 1,500-meter run with a final time of 4:39.30.  Teammate Grob would earn two first place finishes one in the 1,500-meter run, crossing the line at 4:36.68, and the other in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking in at 16.52, while also placing tied for second in the pole vault, with a height of 4.10meters, and also earning three third place finishes in the javelin and discus throws with distances of 38.01meters and 24.39meters, respectively.  Wilkins and Grob would finish the day placing third and second overal with point totals of 5,445 and 5,949.  The men would have eight individuals qualify for the finals in their respective individual event tomorrow.  Seniors Steve Genther (Laingsburg, Mich./Laingsburg HS) and Cortland Seaver (Freeland, Mich./Freeland HS) would earn second and fifth place finishes in the 10,000-meter run finals, Genther timing in at provisionally qualifying time of 30:35.76 and Seaver coming in at 31:19.34.    

Competing in the heptathlon, for the women, was freshman Chelsea Henderson (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS).  On the first day, Henderson earned a third place finish in the 200-meter dash clocking in at 26.88 and a first place finish in the shot put with a distance of 12.27meters.  Henderson was placed sixth overall after the first day.  The second day Henderson earned a first place in the javelin throw with a toss of 33.34meters. She would end the day placing fifth overall with a point total of 3,896.  The women would have five individuals qualify for the finals in their respective individual event tomorrow.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams compete tomorrow (May 7) to complete the third and final day of the Outdoor GLIAC Championships.