Dan Campbell Makes History as Men's Track and Field's First MIAA Steeplechase Champion

The senior wins the race during Day 1 of the MIAA Outdoor Championships.

Pictured, senior Dan Campbell

A determined Dan Campbell is tough to beat … on the track, too.

The Hope College senior became the Flying Dutchmen's first MIAA 3,000-meter steeplechase champion on Thursday and boosted his track and field team into title contention heading into the final day of the MIAA Outdoor Championships.

Hope totaled 39 points for third place during Day 1 at the meet hosted by Calvin University at Gainey Athletic Complex. Trine University leads with 64 points. Albion College is in second place with 46. The Flying Dutchmen are two points ahead of fourth-place Calvin.

Campbell (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton HS) clocked a winning time of 9 minutes, 25.19 seconds and finished 7 ½ seconds ahead of the nearest competitor.

"Dan had a great race," head coach Kevin Cole said of his physical and health education major, who shares the same name as the Detroit Lions head coach. "He is incredibly focused right now. He wanted to win that race. He wants the team to win the championship. He knew the thing he could do [on Thursday] was score 10 points in the steeplechase."

Competition on Day 2 begins at noon.

On Thursday, the Flying Dutchmen collected 19 points in the steeplechase as two of Campbell's teammates also scored.

Sophomore Jonathan Harlow (Holland, Michigan / Home School) finished third with a PR run of 9:36.37. Sophomore Jonas Fraley-Burgett (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) was sixth with a PR time of 9:48.66.

Hope earned points in four more events during Day 1.

In the 10,000 meters, sophomore Ian Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins) placed runner-up after recording a time of 35:40.40. Sophomore Chad Perrine (Jackson, Michigan / Jackson) was sixth at 36:11.11.

In the long jump, sophomore Darion Nundley (Detroit, Michigan / Woodhaven) recorded a third-place leap of 6.58 meters (21-7 ¼).

In the shot put, sophomore Caleb Paarlberg (Alto, Michigan / Caledonia) posted a seventh-place throw of 13.49 meters (44-3 ¼).

In the hammer throw, sophomore Brendyn Mroz (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grandville) took eighth with a throw of 44.0 meters (144-4).

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