HOLLAND, Mich. -- Calvin University men’s outdoor track and field returned to the top of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), capturing the 2026 MIAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Presented by Collegiate Credit Union for the first time since 2019 and securing the program’s 11th conference title under the current format.
In a championship defined by remarkable individual performances and team-wide consistency, Calvin used its depth across field events, hurdles, distance, and relays to outlast a highly competitive field.
The meet began with the decathlon, where Hope College’s Lincoln Phillips captured the title with 6,213 points. Calvin’s Zach VanBaren finished second with 6,072 points, while Hope’s John Wenderski placed third at 5,797.
The University of Olivet’s Owen Fremeau delivered a dominant performance in the throws, winning the shot put with a mark of 17.24m. Trine University’s Colten Zableckis placed second (14.50m), while Albion College’s Van Norman finished third (14.22m). Fremeau later broke the MIAA hammer throw record with a mark of 61.03m, surpassing the previous record of 57.97m set in 2021. Trine’s Trace Stookey placed second (52.65m), followed by Adrian College’s Keith Scott (52.34m).
In the long jump, Alma College’s Edward Markarian narrowly edged Calvin’s Paul Hubbard, winning with a leap of 6.80m to Hubbard’s 6.79m. Calvin’s Rhys Bedford added a third-place finish at 6.72m.
Olivet’s Alex Brown won the pole vault title by clearing 4.46m, while Trine’s Preston Nofziger (4.36m) and Adrian’s Ethan DeBerry (4.26m) rounded out the top three.
Calvin earned a major distance victory in the steeplechase, where Ryan Sarkett crossed first in 9:35.60. Trine’s Eli Shoup (9:45.51) and Zack Gaynor (9:47.94) followed in second and third.
Trine’s Max Van Huis claimed the 10,000m championship in 31:49.43, while Hope’s Cooper Jacobsen finished second (31:54.65) and Trine’s Ryan Hoopingarner took third (31:58.54).
Albion’s James Grey won the triple jump title with a leap of 14.34m. Calvin’s Luke Nguyen placed second (14.14m), and teammate Alex Guidry finished third (13.70m).
Calvin’s Simon Vandenbroek secured the high jump title after clearing 1.98m. Hope’s Carter Marquard and Adrian’s Brandon Berry also cleared 1.98m, finishing second and third on attempts.
Calvin’s Lucas Jambekar captured the javelin championship with a throw of 54.81m. Albion’s John Jackson placed second (51.90m), while Calvin’s Colin Jambekar finished third (49.08m).
Hope’s Aaron Hunt won the discus with a mark of 48.72m, narrowly defeating Calvin’s Alex Lutgring (48.36m), while Olivet’s Yrral Campbell took third (47.59m).
Hope’s sprinting squad excelled in the 4x100m relay, where Nolan Sanders, Dylan Terpstra, Maurice Streeter, and Luke Bellino combined for a winning time of 41.32. Albion finished second (41.74), and Adrian placed third (42.13).
Hope’s Aiden Moore claimed the 1500m run title in 4:00.62, while Calvin’s Vaughn Meyer (4:01.96) and Hope’s Elias Kretchmar (4:02.14) followed closely.
Calvin dominated the 110m hurdles, with Rhys Bedford winning in 14.81, Zach VanBaren finishing second in 15.12, and Hope’s Lincoln Phillips taking third in 15.18.
Hope’s Dylan Terpstra won the 400m dash in 48.48, ahead of Calvin’s Koby VanderWoude (50.02) and Trine’s Kyle Redd (50.31).
Hope’s Maurice Streeter captured the 100m dash title in 10.58, while teammate Nolan Sanders placed second (10.652), just ahead of Albion’s Cooper Bright (10.660).
Hope’s Erickson Kunzler won the 800m run championship in 1:53.90. Calvin’s Cody Aardsma finished second (1:55.27), and Albion’s Logan Vining placed third (1:55.81).
Calvin’s Robert Horton earned the 400m hurdles title in 54.53, while Hope’s Kevin Barifagok (55.30) and Logan Lipka (56.12) finished second and third.
Albion’s Cooper Bright won the 200m dash in 21.64. Adrian’s Jaymes Vines placed second (21.84), while Hope’s Maurice Streeter finished third (21.85).
Trine’s Max Van Huis completed a distance sweep by winning the 5000m run in 14:59.06. Hope’s Elijah Forbord finished second (15:04.60), and Trine’s Nicholas Spielman placed third (15:09.43).
Calvin closed the meet with a critical victory in the 4x400m relay, where Ben Habers, Connor Lubberts, Alexander Nelson, and Koby VanderWoude combined for a championship-clinching time of 3:22.21. Hope finished second (3:25.17), while Olivet placed third (3:25.95).
NCAA selections will be announced May 17, with qualifying athletes advancing to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 21-23 at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Final Team Standings
1. Calvin University - 238
2. Hope College - 215
3. Trine University - 116
4. The University of Olivet - 71
5. Albion College - 65
6. Adrian College - 54
7. Alma College - 33
8. Kalamazoo College - 25