Seven student-athletes earn All-MIAA Indoor Track & Field honors

FREELAND, Mich. – Seven Olivet College men's and women's indoor track & field student-athlete have earned 2019 All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Indoor Track & Field honors. Individual event winners and all members of winning relays at the MIAA Championships are All-MIAA recipients.

Junior Noah Bailey captured the MIAA title in the triple jump with a leap of 46 feet and 6 inches. Sophomore Jacob Smith won the MIAA title in the shot put with a school- and league-record toss of 52 feet. In addition, the 4x400-meter relay quartet of Bailey, freshman Kyle McDowell, sophomore Tyler Peck and senior Chris Womack crossed the finish line first in a school-record time of 3:26.00.

"Noah had a tremendous day winning triple jump and earning his first MIAA title on his first jump of the competition," said Olivet head coach Karen Lutzke. "Jacob had a big day in the shot put as he broke his school record and his won his first conference title.

"The 4x4 relay was a huge victory for our program, as it takes four people to perform their best and all four men ran smart legs on the relay. Noah handed off the baton to Tyler in first-place and we never gave up the lead. Tyler ran a strong leg, handing off to Chris Womack who kept us in the lead and then Kyle McDowell held off the late charge by Hope College to finish in first."

For the Comet women, freshman Lillian Albaugh captured the MIAA title with a 43 foot and 11-1/4 inches toss in the shot put. The mark matched the MIAA record. Senior Michaela Kaliniak won the MIAA title in the pole vault for the second straight year. She cleared the bar at 10 feet and 8 inches.

"Michaela was able to defend her indoor title from last year despite working through an injury the past few weeks," said Lutzke. "Lillian has been progressing each meet and we are so proud of how she stepped up and won her first conference title as a freshman.

"I am proud of how our team stepped up to compete and am looking forward to seeing what else we can do this season."