GVSU Athletes Shatter 3 School Records in One Weekend

A fifth-year athlete just threw her way into the national spotlight while breaking a school record that stood for years.

Erika Beistle earned NCAA Division II National Women's Athlete of the Week after shattering Grand Valley State's shot put record at the GVSU Bob Eubanks Open on January 16-17. Her winning throw of 17.35 meters (56 feet, 11.25 inches) beat her previous personal best by more than six inches.

Beistle didn't start strong. After fouling on her first throw, she steadily improved with each attempt, building momentum through the competition until her record-breaking fifth throw.

But Beistle wasn't the only Laker making history that weekend. Hudsonville native Alaina Diaz broke a 24-year-old long jump record on her fifth attempt, clearing 6.17 meters to beat Icis Charles' 2002 mark.

Diaz now holds both indoor and outdoor long jump records at GVSU. She topped off her stellar performance with a 200-meter sprint that landed her second on the program's all-time list at 24.16 seconds.

Why This Inspires

The weekend proved that breakthrough moments often come from persistence and patience. Both Beistle and Diaz found their record-breaking performances on their fifth attempts, showing that staying focused through early setbacks pays off.

The success extended beyond the headliners. Zeeland East graduate Shelby Ulven threw her way to sixth all-time in GVSU history with a shot put of 19.93 meters.

Andrew Kraft from Zeeland West and Paige Westra from Zeeland East both notched personal records in shot put, with Westra's throw landing her sixth all-time at GVSU. Kraft also set a personal best in pole vault, clearing 4.06 meters.

West Ottawa graduate Abby Olson, now a GVSU graduate student, finished third in the mile at 5:02.2. The strong showing from local athletes highlights the deep talent pipeline running from West Michigan high schools to the Lakers' track program.

For Beistle, the national recognition marks another milestone in an already impressive fifth year, building on her previous NCAA record in discus. Her steady climb through five throws shows what happens when elite athletes trust their training and keep pushing forward.