GVSU's Vanek and Bursh Claim Individual Titles at the D-II Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Release information courtesy of the GVSU Sports Information Department
Turlock, Calif. - Grand Valley State's Daniel Vanek (Dolna Streda, Slovakis/Banska Bystrica) and Lauren Buresh (Stanwood, Mich./Morley Stanwood) have earned individual titles at the 2011 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Grand Valley State women's track and field team put together an outstanding day of competition at the 2011 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday (May 27). GVSU's Lauren Buresh dominated the shot put event on her way to the individual national championship, while Kristen Hixson and Sam Lockhart finished second and third, respectively, in separate events. After two days of competition and only one day remaining, the Lakers are in first place with 47.5 points.
Buresh, a junior, was terrific in the shot put, winning the competition with her second throw of 51-7 feet (15.72m), nearly two feet better than the second-place throw. However, three of Buresh's six tosses were good enough to win the national championship, as her third (50-8.75 feet, 15.46m) and last (51-4.5 feet, 15.66m) throws also would have captured the title.
Junior Daniel Vanek gave the Grand Valley State men's track and field team its first points of the 2011 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in grand fashion. Vanek won the shot put competition and became a national champion with a throw of 62-11.5 feet (19.19m), earning the Lakers 10 points.
Vanek's first throw of 62-1 feet (18.92m) would have been good enough to finish first in the entire competition, but he bested that by almost a full foot on his second toss for the national championship throw of 62-11.5 feet.
Saturday (May 28) is the final day of the Outdoor Track and Field Championships and is the largest day of scored competition.
