The Grand Canyon University Club Track and Field team put a resounding exclamation point on its inaugural season at the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association Outdoor Championships as the GCU women finished 4th and the Lopes' men secured 5th at the annual event in Olivet, Michigan.

Headlining the Lopes' trip to the Great Lakes were two national titles. GCU freshman Evan Van Pelt made a massive statement with a thrilling victory in the Men's 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 54.43 and executing a gallant dive at the finish line to secure 10 points for the team. The GCU Women's 4x100m relay squad - consisting of Ashlyn Cress, Kayle Collman, Ramsey Starr and Lauren Metcalf - also claimed a national championship with a winning time of 48.88.

"Our women showed that they are a competitive force with phenomenal performances all around," said Lopes' Head Coach Todd Lehman.

Metcalf also secured a second-place finish in the 100m (12.63).

"Lauren just keeps stepping up in so many ways for this team with her energy and competitive drive," said Lehman. "She just loves running and it shows each time she steps on the track."

Lopes' sophomore Siena Burns once again proved to be a versatile asset for the Lopes. After a last-minute entry into the open 400m yielded a 4th place finish and a significant PR of 59.03, Burns followed up with a 3rd-place finish in the 800m (2:19.58) before running the anchor leg for the Lopes' 4x400m relay team that placed 8th.

In the sprints, the Lopes' women tallied 13 points in the 100m alone, with Metcalf (2nd), Starr (5th, 12.86), and Collman (8th, 12.94) all reaching the finals. Starr also added four points with a 5th-place finish in the 200m (26.89).
In the field and hurdles, GCU freshman Victoria Brown fought off frigid 40-degree weather early Saturday morning to place 4th in the Triple Jump with a mark of 10.77m. Niyema Keith demonstrated remarkable perseverance, overcoming multiple injuries this season to place 8th in the 100m hurdles (17.69) amidst cold, windy conditions that wreaked havoc on the field.
 
On the men's side, the Lopes dominated the hurdles. Following Van Pelt's championship race, teammates Ezra Wildeman (5th, 56.75) and Andrew Reardon (7th, 57.04) both scored in the finals.

GCU freshman thrower Elijah Triou battled through some early technical struggles to place second in a loaded field of Shot Put Finals competitors with a mark of 14.33m.

The men's jump squad also delivered heavy points throughout the weekend. Jaden Smith (3rd, 13.75m) and Cobie Woods (5th, 13.22m) got the team off to a fast start in the Triple Jump. On Sunday, Nathan Hudders (6th, 6.53m) and Malakai Baier (8th, 6.47m) added to the tally in the Long Jump.

To close out the meet, the 4x400m relay team of Van Pelt, Wildeman, Gabriel Stuebs and Ethan Brenner delivered a 3rd-place finish (3:23.18) to solidify the men's 5th-place overall team standing.

"Once again, I'm overwhelmed by the joy that our athletes were able to express through their competitive experiences this weekend," Lehman said. "On behalf of our staff of amazing coaches, we would like to thank our athletes for believing us. We are all so blessed to have had the opportunity to share our love of the sport with them and look forward to seeing them all continue to improve.

"We are so grateful to our administration for helping make this trip happen in our inaugural season. We truly couldn't have made it happen without their support. Special thanks to (GCU Vice President of Student Affairs) Tim Griffin, (GCU Director of Club Sports) Dr. Dan Nichols and GCU Club Sports Assistant Directors Mark Nelson and Aislinn Whitehead for believing in and helping make this program a possibility. Let's do it again next year, but let's do it bigger in 2027."

Here are the current top 10 all-time NIRCA marks held by GCU athletes.