PITTSBURG, KAN. --- The 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships wrapped up on Saturday (March 10) inside the Robert W. Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State University in Kansas. The Tiffin Dragons, two-time defending men's national champions, finished one point shy of a third straight national championship to claim runner-up honors behind host Pittsburg State. Ashland completed the men's competition in fourth place while Grand Valley State finished sixth. GVSU led the GLIAC contingent on the women's side with an eight-place showing.
Ashland junior Myles Pringle won the national championship in the 400-meter dash, becoming the fastest Division II athlete ever in the event with a time of 45.93 seconds. Pringle was the national runner-up in the 200-meter dash, breaking his own school record and running the fifth-fastest Division II time in history, crossing the line in 20.96 seconds.
The other national champions from the conference came in the final race of the championships as the Grand Valley State women earned top honors in the 4x400 meter relay thanks to a time of 3:40.34 from the team of Chant'e Roberts, Angela Ritter, Jessica Eby and Rachael Walters who won by more than two seconds.
Overall, the GLIAC put together 40 First Team All-Americans from those who finished inside the Top 8, two national champions and seven event runner-up finishes.
DAY 1 ALL AMERICANS: TOP 8 FINALS FINISHERS (14)
M LONG JUMP: Vincent Vogel - Tiffin (7th, 7.53m)
M LONG JUMP: Mason Phillips - Northwood (8th, 7.37m)
W WEIGHT THROW: Natalie Helenthal - Ashland (3rd, 19.50m)
W WEIGHT THROW: MacKenzie Leigh - Ashland (8th, 18.81m)
M WEIGHT THROW: Alex Hill - Ashland (2nd, 20.98m)
M WEIGHT THROW: Paul Evans - Northwood (6th, 20.11m)
W POLE VAULT: Lucy Buckholz - Grand Valley State (8th, 3.82m)
M 5000 METER: James Ngandu - Tiffin (2nd, 14:00.29)
M 5000 METER: Enael Woldemichael - Grand Valley State (3rd, 14:10.89)
M 5000 METER: Zach Panning - Grand Valley State (6th, 14:14.40)
W 5000 METER: Kelly Haubert - Grand Valley State (7th, 16:48.19)
M DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY: Grand Valley State - Joe Renner, Jaylin Golson, Dennis Mbuta, Wuoi Mach (3rd, 9:41.92)
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DAY 2 ALL AMERICANS: TOP 8 FINALS FINISHERS (26)
M 400 DASH: Myles Pringle - Ashland (1st, 45.93)
W 4x400 RELAY: Grand Valley State - Chant'e Roberts, Angela Ritter, Jessica Eby, Rachael Walters (1st, 3:40.34)
M HEPTATHLON: Cameron Burrows - Tiffin (4th, 5490)
M HEPTATHLON: Andrew Mudd - Saginaw Valley (5th, 5440)
M HEPTATHLON: Sam Black - Saginaw Valley (7th, 5344)
M HIGH JUMP: Myles Pringle - Ashland (6th, 2.08m)
M HIGH JUMP: Noah VanderVeen - Saginaw Valley (8th, 2.08m)
M SHOT PUT: Eric Jackson - Tiffin (2nd, 18.72m)
M SHOT PUT: Elijah Talk - Ashland (5th, 18.29m)
M 60 DASH: Jonte Baker - Tiffin (2nd, 6.61)
M 60 DASH: Reginald Thomas - Tiffin (3rd, 6.68)
W 400 METER: Chant'e Roberts - Grand Valley State (5th, 55.09)
W 800 METER: Rachael Walters - Grand Valley State (2nd, 2:08.13)
M 200 DASH: Myles Pringle - Ashland (2nd, 20.96)
M 3000 METER: James Ngandu - Tiffin (4th, 8:07.36)
M 4x400 RELAY: Ashland - Channing Phillips , Trevor Bassitt , Brenden Archer , Myles Pringle (2nd, 3:10.44)
M 4x400 RELAY: Grand Valley State - Andrew McFarland , Thomas Capers , Tyler Pavliga , Jaylin Golson (5th, 3:12.10)
74 entries from 11 different programs competed in the two-day championships. The GVSU women lead all programs with 18 entries as the Lakers are ranked No. 1 in the nation entering the meet. Entries: Grand Valley State W: 18, Tiffin M: 16, Grand Valley State M: 12 Ashland M: 10, Ashland W: 6, Northwood M: 3, Saginaw Valley M: 3, Ferris State M: 2, Northern Michigan W: 2, Wayne State W: 1, Northwood W: 1