Three Hope College student-athletes have qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in La Crosse, Wisconsin: Alison Rich in the heptathlon, Benjamin Pederson in the steeplechase, and Joshua Izenbart in the decathlon.
The three-day meet hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse begins Thursday, May 24.
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Rich and Pederson are making their second consecutive appearances at nationals. This is Izenbart's first trip.
Rich is a returning All-American in the heptathlon. The senior from Haslett, Michigan (Haslett HS) finished eighth place with 4,574 points last season in Geneva, Ohio, outside of Cleveland, after rising five spots during the final day of competition.
Earlier this month, Rich was named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Most Valuable Field Athlete.
The first of seven heptathlon events begins Thursday at 10:40 a.m. Central with the 110-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meters. On Friday, she will finish with the long jump, javelin, and 800 meters.
Pederson is running the steeplechase at nationals again after qualifying for last season's final and finishing 12th in the nation. The senior from Mount Prospect, Illinois (Prospect) placed runner-up in the steeplechase at the MIAA Championships earlier this month.
The steeplechase preliminaries are Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Central.
Izenbart took third in the javelin and the 400-meter hurdles at the MIAA Championships. The sophomore from Glenwood, Illinois (Homewood-Flossmoor) will begin competing on Thursday at 10 a.m.
On Thursday, Izenbart will do the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 meters. On Friday, he will finish with the 110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters.
