Janelle Docter set Lake Superior State's program record for the weight throw during the Indoor Track and Field season. As the Lakers shift their focus to the Outdoor campaign, she's closing in on more throwing history at LSSU.

At Saturday's Chippewa Challenge, hosted by Central Michigan University, Docter heaved the Hammer Throw 47.89 meters, winning the event while closing on Jill Walton's school record of 48.87 meters, thrown at the 2010 GLIAC Outdoor Championships. See Docter's throw here.

Matt Stith, LSSU Track and Field Head Coach, said that it capped off an incredible day for the senior. "She had six attempts at this meet between prelims and finals, and out of those six attempts, every throw was farther than any throw she had thrown at any point in her career up to this point. That's the series of a lifetime for a thrower, and it just kept building and building and building. None of us think that she's reached her limits yet. Every great throw builds confidence for the next one."

He added, "She should have a real good shot at putting her name in the record books again for us here in the next couple of weeks."

Ava Donmyer continued her strong campaign, throwing 32.68 meters in the Javelin and winning the event by nearly a meter and a half. She blew away the rest of the field, throwing nearly seven meters further than the third place result.

"Ava has been a crucial member of our field event group this year, not just because she's been our best javelin thrower, but because she has really taken on a leadership role in that segment," said Stith. "She's been the catalyst for all of our jav throwers to be doing the kind of work that they're able tod o through a tough winter and have us ready to be performing as well as we are. Really proud of her."

Donmyer's throw marked the second time she won the Javelin at the Chippewa Challenge. In April of 2024, she threw 27.78 meters, which won the event that season. In 2026, she threw nearly five meters further to claim the top spot.

For Stith, the Chippewa Challenge represented an opportunity. With the Elaine Leigh Invitational next weekend at Oakland University and GLIAC Championships looming at month's end, the meet at CMU presented the chance to build into those competitions. Some Lakers took the chance to bounce back after the Yellow Jacket Invitational a few weeks prior. Others wanted to put in prep time ahead of the season's stretch run.

"With a lot of different goals and different expectations across the roster, I felt like we really met what we were down there to do," Stith said. "It was a successful weekend for us."

For the Laker men's team, track runners posted quality outings. Grant Wheaton finished third in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles at 15.87, while Logan Beer came in third for the 100 Meter Dash at 10.98. Max Ward won the 400 Meter Hurdles as well.

"For Grant to be able to perform that well in the 110 Hurdles is great. It's a testament to the fact that it's his favorite event, for one thing, but since Grant's a decathlete, he competed in four different events this weekend," said Stith. "When we pop a fast performance there, that just kind of whets our appetite for what he's going to be able to do in that multi-event setting, because hurdles is one of the places where we hope for him to really pick up big points in the decathlon."

Two first year women ran well on the track. Chrisseth Mair finished at 26.80 in the 200 Meter Dash, with Camila Rodriguez just behind at 26.81. The two finished second and third, respectively. 

The Lakers head to Oakland on Friday for the two day Elaine Leigh Invitational, then get a week off before the GLIAC Championships.

"Oakland should provide us with a good facility, good competition and hopefully good weather so we can put down good marks to lead us into GLIAC Championships on a good note," said Stith.