ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine track and field teams will host the Trine Indoor Championships this Saturday at Keith E. Busse/Steel Dynamics Athletic Recreations Center.
Though not officially sponsored by the MIAA this season, the meet will feature performances from all MIAA schools sponsoring indoor track and field. Last year the Thunder men placed second in the same event, which was hosted by Calvin. The Trine women placed eighth. The two teams feature several contenders that could solidify qualifying performers for upcoming National Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Trine's top-ranked competitor on the national level coming in to this weekend is Trisha King (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold). The reigning All-American is fourth in the 800 M with an official ranking time of 2:13.30. King's most recent performance in the event saw her break set a new Trine indoor record with a time of 2:12.
Kara Eck (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) has the eight-best performance in the nation in the Weight Throw this year. Eck has set school-records in both the Weight Throw and Shot Put this season.
The top-ranked men's performer entering the weekend is reigning All-American Tyler Bourdo (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg). The senior's time of 49.19 seconds ranks ninth in the nation in the 400 M.
Bourdo, along with Luke Fimreite (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon), Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) and Zach Markley (Winamac, Ind./Winamac) make up a 4 x 400 relay team that is ranked 18th in the nation. The quartet of runners most-recently set a school indoor-record in the event at Grand Valley State.
Leopold is also considered a contender for the top spot in the 800 M at Saturday's meet. Fimreite placed third in the 400 M at least year's Calvin Indoor Championships.
Andrew Bunting (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick), Dakota Bagwell (Kokomo, Ind./Western) and Sam Gilly (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden) give the Thunder a formidable trio in throwing events. John Daniel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) should also contend for the top Pole Vault performance.
Jenn Steyer (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton) gives the Thunder women another strong contender in throwing events. Steyer's performance in the Weight Throw has also topped the previous school-record entering this year.
The Trine Indoor Championships get underway this Saturday, Feb. 28 at noon. CLICK HERE for order of events.