ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine men's track and field team will be looking to build upon last season's conference championship as the Thunder open the season Saturday in Keith E. Busse / Steel Dynamics Athletic Recreation Center.
Trine claimed the inaugural MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship last winter and will be looking to build towards another conference title. The season opens Saturday with the Sean Brady Conditioner. Events are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. The event is named in honor of Sean Brady, a former member of the Thunder track and field and cross country teams who was killed in an auto accident at the age of 18.
A strong core of returning throwers is expected to make up one of the strengths of this year's Thunder team. Mitch Martin (Monroe, Mich. / Monroe), Nick Gerber (Goshen, Ind. / Goshen), Derek Scott (Niles, Mich. / Niles) and Jessie Dowell (Remington, Ind. / Tri Junior-Senior) each earned points in the conference indoor championship meet last season. Martin and Gerber anchor Trine's efforts in the weight throw, while Scott and Dowell saw their success in the shot put.
Logan Lindsley's (Battle Creek, Mich. / Quincy) return will give Trine a boost in jumps. Lindsley set a program record in the triple jump before missing the rest of last season with an injury. Jacob Payne (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) and Ryan Haarer (Goshen, Ind. / Northridge) also return as the team's top pole vaulters.
Leading the returners on the track is MIAA Mile Run champion Nicholas Zak (Saint John, Ind. / Hanover Central). Zak set a school-record by nine seconds in the event last season and was one of the conference's best performers in the 800-meter run. Senior Jacob Leopold (Ottawa, Ohio / Ottawa-Glandorf) is the school-record holder in the 800-meter run and another significant contributor in mid-distance events.
Patrick Richardville (Leo, Ind. / Leo), Jasper Bassett (Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb), Zach Markley (Winamac, Ind. / Winamac) and John Harris-Scott (Wesley Chapel, Fla. / Wiregrass Ranch) are among Trine's top returners in sprinting events. Richardville is the school record-holder in the 60-meter dash. Bassett and Markley saw most of their success in the 200-meter and 400-meter events, while Harris-Scott gives the Thunder a second capable performer in the 60-meter dash.
Trine's distance efforts should get a boost from the return of Adam Schaaf (Greentown, Ind. / Eastern), who is coming off his second All-MIAA First Team honors during the cross country season. The Thunder boast a deep and improving core of distance runners behind Schaaf.
Saturday's race is the first of three home events for Trine this winter. For the complete schedule, CLICK HERE.