ALLENDALE — How good was the Petoskey track and field program in 2025?
A clearer picture of that continues to form.
As Petoskey graduate Alison Bailey was earning All-American status in her first season with the Calvin University women’s track and field team, Petoskey ’25 graduate Sam Mitas was busy helping the Grand Valley State University men’s track team capture a NCAA Division II National Championship and All-American honors himself.
A freshman on the GVSU men’s team, Mitas helped the 4×100 relay team to a fifth place finish at the national championship meet at the end of May in Emporia, Kans.
The relay team, which included GVSU’s Jason Hamilton II, Sam Coyle and Joshua Page ran a time of 39.80 seconds, their best of the season, to place fifth.
The time for the foursome was also second best in Grand Valley State men’s history.
It also added four points to the Grand Valley team score, helping lead to the 66-point finish and overall national title by just five points over Pittsburgh State.
During his first season at GVSU, Mitas also competed in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, setting new personal bests in the events.
He ran all sub 11-second times in the 100 meter dash for the season, claiming a new PR of 10.71 seconds in late April. He also set a new PR in the 200, running 21.36.
While at Petoskey, Mitas was a part of four school records in sprints with the Northmen. He owns the 200 meter record in 21.94 seconds and became the first sub 11-second Northmen runner ever in the 100 meter dash, setting a new record in 10.82 seconds.
He’s also part of school records in the 4×100 in 41.83 seconds and 4×200 in 1:28.89.
He earned all-state four times during his PHS career, along with a state title in the 4×100 with teammates Kaiden Boyce, Logan Beer and Seth Marek.
Mitas will have three seasons ahead to add to his already All-American career at GVSU.
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: After record-setting Petoskey career, Sam Mitas becomes GVSU All-American
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
