Indoor Track: IU East at GVSU Recap Day 1

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Emilee Earl and Brody Puckett led the Indiana University East indoor track and field teams at Grand Valley State University on Friday, Feb. 13.

Earl cleared 3.58 meters in the women's pole vault to set a new IU East record in the event, while also surpassing the NAIA "B" Qualifying Standard of 3.55 meters during GVSU's Big Meet-Friday inside the Kelly Family Sports Center. Overall, Earl tied for 10th in a field that featured 24 competitors from NCAA Div. I, NCAA Div. II and NAIA schools. She is now third on the River States Conference Performance List with the top five all being national qualifiers.

Puckett finished second out of 54 runners in the men's 600 meters with a time of 1:20.61, which was just shy of the NAIA "B" Standard of 1:20.53. He was the top college athlete as an unattached runner won the race. His time currently leads the RSC Performance List.

In addition to Earl and Puckett, the Red Wolves also had seven other athletes post personal records in their respective events. Setting new marks were DeAndre Hall (men's 600, 1:24.22), Grant Luebbe (men's 600, 1:29.72), Vanessa Temple (women's 600, 1:42.61), Thomas Hogan (men's 5,000, 15:24.65), Richard Bower (men's 5,000, 15:28.71), Gabe Reynolds (men's 5,000, 15:53.81) and Keaton Walker (men's 5,000, 15:56.35).

Next up for the Red Wolves is GVSU's Big Meet-Saturday, which starts at 10 a.m.

With Earl reaching a NAIA standard, she joins Cameron Nocton (men's racewalk), Sarah Perry (women's racewalk) and Kayci Hill (women's 1,000) as national qualifiers for the Red Wolves. The NAIA National Indoor Championships are March 5-7 in Gainesville, Fla.