Men's Indoor Track and Field Takes Third in First MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll

The Hope College men's indoor track and field team placed third in the inaugural MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Flying Dutchmen, led by first-year head coach Jordan Bartolazzi, totaled 15 points and received one first-place vote in the rankings.

Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Defending champion Trine University topped the poll with 10 points and five first-place votes, finishing four points and three first-place votes ahead of second-place Calvin University.

After Hope, Albion College took fourth with 30 points. Kalamazoo College placed fifth with 34 points and was followed by Adrian College (35), The University of Olivet (40) and Alma College (46).

The Flying Dutchmen open the indoor season on Friday, Dec. 5, at noon at Grand Valley State University's Holiday Open.

Hope returns senior sprinter Liam Danitz, the 2025 First Team All-MIAA honoree and MIAA Most Valuable Men's Indoor Track Athlete.

Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights) set an MIAA record in the 200-meter dash (21.59), earned First Team All-America honors with a fifth-place national finish in the 200 (21.93), and took second in the 60-meter dash (6.83) for All-MIAA Second Team honors.

The exercise science major also contributed to an All-MIAA Second Team 4x400 relay alongside returning junior Dylan Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville).

Senior Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) returns as the MIAA 800-meter champion after posting a winning time of 1:56.09.

Senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) and junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) also return from last year's All-MIAA First Team distance medley relay.

Bartolazzi, a four-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Track and Field Coach of the Year, previously served at Elmhurst University (Illinois) as director of track and field and cross country from 2017-25. He guided the Elmhurst women to their first CCIW indoor and outdoor titles in 2025, earning CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year honors in both seasons.

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