FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Calvin University was selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll after earning seven first-place votes, with Hope College and defending champion Trine University rounding out the top three.
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced the preseason poll following a vote of the league’s eight head coaches. The rankings highlight a strong group of conference champions, All-Region performers, and national-level competitors set to take the track and field this spring.
1. Calvin University – 49 points (7 first-place votes)
Calvin enters the outdoor season after placing second at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 205 points. The Knights feature a deep and experienced lineup across distance, sprints, and field events.
Senior Thaine Nederveld leads the group after sweeping the 5000m and 10,000m titles last season, earning MIAA Most Valuable Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete honors and All-Region recognition in the 5000m. Junior Bob Horton adds strength in the hurdles after capturing the 400m hurdles title and earning All-Region honors. Senior Koby VanderWoude recorded runner-up finishes in both the 400m dash and 4x400m relay, while junior Zach Van Baren placed second in the decathlon and earned All-Region honors. The 4x400m relay unit also returns sophomore Benjamin Habers and senior Connor Lubberts. Junior Luke Nguyen brings field event depth after finishing second in the triple jump.
2. Hope College – 43 points (1 first-place vote)
Hope placed third at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 171 points and features a balanced lineup across sprints, middle distance, and relays.
Junior Dylan Terpstra highlights the sprint group after winning the 400m dash and contributing to the conference-champion 4x400m relay, while also earning All-Region honors in the 4x100m relay. Senior Erickson Kunzler captured the 800m title and earned All-Region recognition, while classmate Ian Petruska won the 1500m with All-Region honors. Sophomore Gavin Bush contributed to Hope’s first-place 4x400m relay, while sophomore Kevin Barifagok earned All-Region honors in the 400m hurdles. Senior Nolan Sanders also adds relay experience after earning All-Region recognition in the 4x100m relay.
The Flying Dutchmen begin a new era under head coach Jordan Bartolazzi, who enters his first season leading the program after serving as the director of track and field and cross country at Elmhurst University since 2017.
3. Trine University – 37 points
Trine claimed the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championship with 210 points and enters the season as the defending champion.
Senior Braden Estep played a key role in the Thunder’s first-place 4x100m relay and earned All-Region honors. Estep was most recently named the 2026 MIAA Most Valuable Indoor Track Athlete. Junior Max Van Huis adds distance strength after runner-up finishes in both the 1500m and 10,000m, along with All-Region recognition in the 5000m.
Head coach Ben Markison, who guided Trine to the conference title in his first season with the program, was named the 2026 MIAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year.
4. Albion College – 31 points
Albion finished fourth at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 104 points and features experience across multiple event groups.
Senior James Grey leads the field events after winning the triple jump last season. Junior Logan Vining placed third in the 800m, while seniors Cooper Bright and Josiah Graddick helped the 4x100m relay to a third-place finish. Sophomore John Jackson adds throwing strength after a third-place finish in the javelin.
5. Adrian College – 21 points
Adrian placed sixth at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 35 points and looks to build momentum this spring.
Senior KJ Scott highlights the throwing group after earning All-Region honors in the discus. Freshman Jaymes Vines adds potential after earning Second Team All-MIAA honors during the indoor season.
Matthew Gipple will serve as acting head coach for the 2026 spring season after previously working as an assistant coach for the Siena Heights University cross country and track and field programs since 2024.
6. The University of Olivet – 20 points
Olivet finished fifth at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 68 points and features one of the league’s top field athletes.
Junior Owen Fremeau swept the shot put, hammer, and discus titles last season, earning All-Region honors in the shot put and All-America recognition with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He was also recently named the 2026 MIAA Most Valuable Indoor Field Athlete. Sophomore Yrral Campbell contributes additional strength in the throws after placing third in the discus.
7. Kalamazoo College – 14 points
Kalamazoo reintroduces track and field for the first time since the early 1980s and looks to make an impact in its first season back.
The Hornets roster is highlighted by sophomore Jack Schneider who captured the 5000m title during the 2026 indoor season, along with classmate Mason Jett who placed second in the 800m at this year's MIAA Indoor Championships.
Head coach Kyle Morrison continues to guide the program after taking over track and field duties in addition to his role as cross country head coach since joining Kalamazoo in 2019.
8. Alma College – 9 points
Alma placed seventh at the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships with 20 points and brings back key relay experience.
Sophomore Aiden Aldrich, classmate Aiden Tornberg, and junior Luke Martin contributed to a third-place finish in the 4x400m relay and will look to build on that success this spring.
Up Ahead
The 2026 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will begin with the combined events on April 20-21 and conclude with the championship meet April 30-May 1. The NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for May 21-24 at the Veteran's Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisconsin.