ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine track and field teams are gearing up for conference championships at MIAA Field Day, set for Thursday and Friday at Albion College.
The two-day event serves as the official championship for MIAA outdoor track and field. Last season the Trine men placed fifth overall, while the women placed seventh. Both teams racked up several top performances in the MIAA Jamboree this season, which serves as an unofficial conference championship preview meet. The two teams combined for six first-place and 10 second-place finishes in the Jamboree.
The Trine men return 400-meter dash champion Tyler Bourdo (Plainwell, Mich./Delton-Kellogg) as their only individual medalist from last season's field day. The two-time outdoor All-American won the event at the MIAA Jamboree this year. He ranks eighth in the nation with his top time of 47.92 seconds.
Along with Luke Fimreite (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon), Zach Markley (Winamac, Ind./Winamac) and Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf), Bourdo will look to help defend Trine's title in the 4-x-400-meter relay. Trine's 4-x-400 team topped the field at MIAA Field Day.
Dakota Bagwell (Kokomo, Ind./Western) and John Daniel (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) each picked up first-place finishes at the Jamboree to help lead the Thunder field performers. Bagwell won the hammer throw and looks to contend in numerous throwing events. Daniel topped all performers in the pole vault.
Kara Eck (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) accounted for both of Trine's first-place finishes in the MIAA Jamboree. The freshman won the shot put and hammer throw. Eck has set school-records in both events and was an All-American in the hammer throw during the indoor season.
Field Day begins at 1 p.m. Thursday with field events. Preliminaries of several track events will be held Thursday as well. The championship culminates with a full day of competition beginning Friday at 10 a.m.