ANGOLA, IND.-- The Trine men's track and field team has high expectations entering the 2014-15 season, which opens when they host the Trine Conditioner this Friday in Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic Recreation Center.
The Thunder return several key performers from last season, led by All-American Tyler Bourdo (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg). The senior placed fifth in the nation in the 400 M Dash at the Indoor National Championships to earn his All-American honors. Bourdo is the school-record holder in both the 200 M and 400 M, and is expected to contend for another National Championship berth this season.
Bourdo will also make up part of a 4 x 400 M Relay team the coaching staff is expecting big things from. He will be joined by Luke Fimreite (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon), Nate Smoker (Bronson, Mich./Bronson), and Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf). The quartet of runners could potentially contend for a trip to nationals this season.
Fimreite, Leopold, and Smoker will also look for success in individual events. Fimreite has been a strong performer in the 400 M, while Leopold has split time between the 400 M and 800 M. Smoker has primarily performed in shorter distances individually.
Trine also returns a strong core of throwers in Dakota Bagwell (Kokomo, Ind./Western), Sam Gilly (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden) and Andrew Bunting (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick). Bagwell has previously earned All-MIAA honors during the Outdoor season for his work in the Hammer Throw.
Rounding out Trine's top returners is pole vaulter John Daniel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll). The junior showed steady improvement last season and will be looking to take his performance to the next level this winter.
The Trine roster features 30 freshman, many of whom participated in cross country in the fall. The Thunder group of distance runners is primarily made up of freshman and sophomores. Sophomore Austin Ganger (Mishawaka, Ind./Penn) saw the most success last season of all returning distance runners.
The Trine Conditioner gets underway with field events starting at 5 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 5. Running events are slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. CLICK HERE for schedule of events.
The Indoor schedule features four home meets for the Thunder. CLICK HERE to view the complete schedule.