Trio of GVSU athletes just miss Olympic spots in track and field

Three Grand Valley State athletes nearly qualified for the Olympics this past week at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

The trio of Lakers, past and present, each qualified for the finals in their event and helped put GVSU on the map nationally at the center of track and field in Eugene, Oregon.

Erika Beistle finished fourth in the shot put, Jaivon Harrison was sixth in the high jump and Kristen Hixson Leland was 11th in the pole vault.

For Beistle, it was an emotional finish, her highest ever, but also just one spot away from making the U.S. Olympic team for Paris.

"All I have to say is that I am so honored to compete at this level among some of the best in U.S. track and field, on one of the largest stages," Beistle said. "I am grateful to be a part of Grand Valley State's track and field team, and thankful for all my coaches, friends and family who have supported me from the beginning. I would not be where I am today without them, and I am so thankful for all the opportunities and experiences that I have gained a long the way."

Beistle will have the opportunity to compete for Team USA in non-Olympic events if any of the top three bows out of them.

She claimed the NCAA title in both the shot put and discus this past outdoor season as well as the shot put indoors. She is the GVSU record-holder in both events.

"This was a really spectacular performance over the two days of competition for Erika. She was the youngest woman in the field and to do what she did in her first appearance at a U.S. Championships, let alone the Olympic Trials, is really remarkable," GVSU throws coach Matt Conly said. "Stuff like this doesn't happen often, and it speaks volumes to her fearlessness in competition and the work she did to prepare herself for a moment like today. She's a really special athlete with the work ethic to match her talents. The limits on what her future in the sport may hold is incredibly high."

Harrison, who won the NCAA Division II national title in the high jump in both indoor and outdoor this past year, cleared 2.21 meters to finish sixth.

"What an incredible finish to the season for Jaivon," GVSU jumps coach Steve Jones said. "He is solidifying his place as one of the best high jumpers in the country. Thank you to Grand Valley for the opportunity to bring out squad to Eugene and have a chance to represent the country in Paris."

GVSU graduate Hixson Leland finished 11th in the pole vault.

She made the finals by tying for first in the qualifying round at 4.53 meters.

In the finals, Hixson, a former NCAA champion and Team USA member, reached 4.43 meters and took 11th. She reached the same height as several competitors in front of her but did it in more attempts.

Her overall height was just a foot away from making the team.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.