GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2026 outdoor track & field athletes of the year, as voted on by the conference coaches following the NCAA Division II Championships.
Grand Valley State student-athletes earned three of the four postseason awards. Two members of the Lakers' national championship men's team were honored, with Koby Fraaza claiming track athlete of the year and Michael Griffey collecting field athlete of the year, while Shelby Ulven received women's field athlete of the year.
Parkside's Johanna Ebert was named women's track athlete of the year.
Fraaza (10,000m) and Griffey (hammer throw) each won individual national titles at the 2026 NCAA Championships.
2026 GLIAC MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Koby Fraaza, Grand Valley State
Koby Fraaza, a Richland, Mich. native, was awarded GLIAC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year based on his All-American performances at last week’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. Fraaza closed out day one of national competition with the men’s 10000m, an event he had qualified for in late March with a personal-best 28:52.63 finish. In his second to last outing as a Laker, Fraaza completed the 25 laps around Emporia State’s track in just 29:20.62, leading by several seconds to win his first individual national title. The 10 points he had added to the Laker’s tally was not enough for the senior. On the final day of competition, Fraaza raced in the 5000m. All Grand Valley State needed was two points to secure the team National Championship title, and the team knew Fraaza would deliver. He crossed the finish line sixth overall at 14:10.82 to contribute three points to the team score, effectively crowning GVSU the 2026 NCAA DII Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Champion. Fraaza closed out his collegiate career with six First-Team All-America honors, the most recent two being awarded at the national championships.
2026 GLIAC WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Johanna Ebert, Parkside
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) announced the postseason awards for the 2026 Outdoor Track and Field Season, and Parkside’s Johanna Ebert was named the GLIAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Ranger to ever do so. Ebert earns the award after earning All-American honors with a 5th place finish at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 3000 meter steeplechase. The Parkside 3000 meter steeplechase record holder won the GLIAC title in her premier event at the GLIAC Championships this season, while also picking up points with a 5th place finish in the 1500 meters.
2026 GLIAC MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Michael Griffey, Grand Valley State
Michael Griffey has earned the title of GLIAC Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year following an impressive season in the cage. Griffey began his season on a tear, throwing a personal-best in hammer at nearly every meet and never ranking below eighth in competition. This trend continued into the post season, where he threw for a personal-best and won gold on two occasions. At the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, Griffey threw for a personal-best 69.25m (227-2) to place first. In the first individual event of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, he threw for a personal-best 69.87m (229-3) to notch a new personal-best, rank No. 2 in program history and win the individual national championship title in hammer throw. The All-American’s first place finish added 10 points to GVSU’s team score at the national championships and contributed to the Lakers earning the team title with 66 points.
2026 GLIAC WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Shelby Ulven, Grand Valley State
The GLIAC has named thrower Shelby Ulven this season’s GLIAC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. The thrower from Zeeland, Mich. most recently earned her fifth All-America honor at this year’s NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but her performances leading up to her final collegiate outing were impressive, too. Through six regular season meets, Ulven never ranked below third in hammer throw competition. She broke the 60.00m threshold on two occasions, first at the Virginia Challenge in mid-April with a 60.23m (197-7) toss and then again in May, throwing for 61.20, (200-9) at the GVSU Last Chance Meet. In between those two throws, Shelby was named GLIAC Outdoor Champion in women’s hammer with a 56.08m (184-0) throw, a feat that she had achieved twice prior. At the NCAA Championships, Ulven threw for 60.71m (199-2) to place third in women’s hammer and earn her fifth First-Team All-America honor.
