FREELAND, Mich. -- Trine's Kara Eck was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Field Athlete, the conference announced today.
Eck (Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb) won the weight throw and shot put in Saturday's MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. The junior set a meet record in both events. Eck unleashed a school-record throw of 17.64 meters (57 feet, 10.5 inches) to take first in the weight throw. She added a toss of 13.39 meters (43 feet, 11.25 inches) in her winning shot put performance. Eck's performance led the Thunder to a third-place finish in the championship.
The MIAA Field MVP is selected by the conference's coaches and is based on performance in the conference meet. Eck was a unanimous choice for MVP honors.
After two Indoor All-American performances, Eck is poised to return to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships once again. Eck is ranked 12th in the nation in the weight throw and is tied for 19th in the nation in the shot put. She has earned All-American honors in each event during her career.
Eck and members of the Trine women's track and field team will compete in last-chance meets next weekend. The National Championships will be held in Naperville, Ill. March 10-11.