ANGOLA, IND.-- The Trine track and field teams will compete for the MIAA-title when they head to the MIAA Field Day this Thursday and Friday at Alma College.
This year will be the 123rd year of Field Day- the conference's longest running event. This year, Field Day is the sole determinant for deciding the MIAA track and field champions. Calvin is the defending champion in both men's and women's track. The Trine men placed fifth in the MIAA Jamboree against competitors two weeks ago, while the women placed seventh in the Jamboree. Events get underway Thursday, beginning with fields events at 1:00 p.m. The meet concludes Friday, with events on day two getting underway at 10:00 a.m.
Click Here for Schedule of Events
The Trine men return three All-MIAA individuals from a year ago. Tyler Bourdo (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg) is the reigning MIAA Track Athlete of the Year. Last year, he won the 400 Meter Dash and placed second in the 200 Meter Dash. The junior earned All-American honors in the 400 Meter Dash this winter after placing fifth in the nation at the NCAA Division III National Championships.
Lincoln Frey (Pettisville, Ohio/Pettisville) is the reigning MIAA-champion in the Pole Vault. The senior is coming off a 15 foot, five inch vault performance at the Hillsdale Gina Relays. He was the only Division III performer to top 15 feet at the meet.
Dakota Bagwell (Kokomo, Ind./Western) won the Hammer Throw at last year's Field Day. Bagwell previously won MIAA Field Athlete of the Week honors this season for winning the Hammer Throw at the MIAA Jamboree at Alma.
Trine's 4 x 400 Meter Relay team took first at the MIAA Jamboree and is expected to contend for the top spot at Field Day. The team is made up of Bourdo, Luke Fimreite (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon), Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) and Nate Smoker.
Trisha King (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) leads the list of contender's for the Trine women. King earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish in the 800 Meter Run at the NCAA Division III National Championships over the winter. King recently set a Trine outdoor record in the event at Grand Valley State University's Al Owens Invitational.
Kadie Kachmaryk (Standish, Mich./Au Gres-Sims) was seventh in the Pole Vault at the MIAA Jamboree. Nikki Salzman (Wheeling, Ill../Buffalo Grove) placed ninth in the 400 Meter Dash.
Sloan Davis (Charlotte, Mich./Olivet), Kayla Johnson (Bronson, Mich./Bronson) and Jennifer Steyer (Missouri Valley, Iowa/Missouri Valley) should also compete for points in throwing events.