2,100 track and field athletes set for Ginas
Brandon Muri
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Sports
A full-page promotional flyer in Michigan Runner magazine this month announced the 42nd annual Gina Relays, hosted this weekend at Hillsdale College's Ken Herrick Outdoor Track and Field Complex.
The Gina Relays is not an official GLIAC event, head track and field coach Bill Lundberg said. The event provides an attractive opportunity for athletes to improve their stats on a personal level and earn provisional qualifications in the NCAA Division II National Meet.
The Gina Relays host approximately 2,000 athletes, representing over 100 Division I, II and III schools, each spring.
"There are like 2,100 athletes competing, which, compared to the size of our student body is enormous," sophomore Katie Christiansen said.
The large number of participants makes the Gina Relays a significant event in Michigan outdoor track and field.
"Competitors do not have to be collegiate athletes to participate," Lundberg said. "[The Gina Relays] is an open event so athletes trying to qualify for the Olympics - and even junior college students - are welcome to participate."
Lundberg said there will be two high jump stations and two pole vault pits where men's and women's events can occur simultaneously.
Many events will be officiated by Charger football staff. Charger coaches will be officiating javelin and discus events, football offensive coordinator Barry Fagan said.
"That's the only reason we finish spring ball this early" Fagan said. "To support coach Lundberg - it's all about love for coach Lundberg."
Hillsdale will host an official GLIAC?event, the decathlon and heptathlon to start the Gina Relays off.
"Multi-events are difficult to host, because they are not held every week and they require two days to put on," Lundberg said. "They are being held here for the sake of convenience."
The Gina Relays are held in commemoration of the death of Hillsdale graduate Gina Van Laar Lanser, '88, who was killed in a car accident in 1996 along with her unborn child.
During her time at Hillsdale, Lanser was awarded seven athletic and four academic All-American awards and a national championship.
The Gina Relays is not an official GLIAC event, head track and field coach Bill Lundberg said. The event provides an attractive opportunity for athletes to improve their stats on a personal level and earn provisional qualifications in the NCAA Division II National Meet.
The Gina Relays host approximately 2,000 athletes, representing over 100 Division I, II and III schools, each spring.
"There are like 2,100 athletes competing, which, compared to the size of our student body is enormous," sophomore Katie Christiansen said.
The large number of participants makes the Gina Relays a significant event in Michigan outdoor track and field.
"Competitors do not have to be collegiate athletes to participate," Lundberg said. "[The Gina Relays] is an open event so athletes trying to qualify for the Olympics - and even junior college students - are welcome to participate."
Lundberg said there will be two high jump stations and two pole vault pits where men's and women's events can occur simultaneously.
Many events will be officiated by Charger football staff. Charger coaches will be officiating javelin and discus events, football offensive coordinator Barry Fagan said.
"That's the only reason we finish spring ball this early" Fagan said. "To support coach Lundberg - it's all about love for coach Lundberg."
Hillsdale will host an official GLIAC?event, the decathlon and heptathlon to start the Gina Relays off.
"Multi-events are difficult to host, because they are not held every week and they require two days to put on," Lundberg said. "They are being held here for the sake of convenience."
The Gina Relays are held in commemoration of the death of Hillsdale graduate Gina Van Laar Lanser, '88, who was killed in a car accident in 1996 along with her unborn child.
During her time at Hillsdale, Lanser was awarded seven athletic and four academic All-American awards and a national championship.
Be the first to comment on this story