GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following the first week of competition of the 2025-26 indoor track & field season. Grand Valley State athletes earned three honors -- redshirt sophomore Sam Allen (men's track), senior Lauren Kiley (women's track) and sophomore Brooke Bowers (women's field) -- while Parkside redshirt sophomore EJ Johnson was named GLIAC Men's Field Athlete of the Week.
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Sam Allen, Grand Valley State
Sam Allen was named GLIAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week following his performance at the GVSU Holiday Open on Friday, December 5. Allen competed in the 800m at the season opener and notched a finish at 1:50.62 to take first in his heat and overall. His time was less than one second shy of his indoor personal-best finish at 1:49.24 – the third-fastest time in program history. Allen’s time ranks him third in NCAA Division II in the event as of December 9, 2025.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lauren Kiley, Grand Valley State
After closing out the cross country season with All-American honors, Lauren Kiley begins the track & field season with another honor: GLIAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. At the GVSU Holiday Open, Kiley raced in the invite section of the women’s 5000m event. The senior finished fourth, exceeding the NCAA Division II Provisional Mark with a time of 16:20.43. Her finish ranks her number nine in the event across NCAA Division II.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: EJ Johnson, Parkside
Parkside Track and Field’s EJ Johnson has been named the inaugural GLIAC Field Athlete of the Week for the 2025-26 season with his performance in the high jump at the Carthage Forever Red Alumni Classic. Johnson posted a mark of 2.16m which not only was a Parkside school record, but it also met NCAA Division II Provisional Qualifying standards and is currently the best jump in the country. Johnson, the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor All-American won the event.
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Brooke Bowers, Grand Valley State
True sophomore Brooke Bowers has earned this week’s GLIAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors. The pole vaulter opened at a height of 4.02m (13-2.25), a height at which no other athlete could attempt. She cleared the mark on her first pass, ready to attempt the next mark: 4.17m (13-8.25). It took two attempts, but she easily cleared the bar to notch her final mark of the day. The sophomore attempted 4.32m (14-2) but was unable to clear the mark through three attempts. Despite this, Bowers ranks number one in NCAA Division II and 11th across all divisions with the 4.17m (13-8.25) finish.
