NCAA Division III Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships Preview

Hope College's Liam Danitz eyes a historic sprint in Western New York this weekend.

The junior from West Branch, Michigan (Ogemaw Heights HS) can become the Flying Dutchmen's first All-American in the 200 meters — indoor or outdoor — and the program's second national champion in any event.

The first-time national qualifier runs at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships on Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, at Nazareth University's Golisano Training Center in Rochester, New York.

Danitz is one of 20 qualifiers in the 200 and will race in Friday's prelims at 4:15 p.m. Eight qualify for Saturday's 5:15 p.m. final.

The exercise science major aims to become the Flying Dutchmen's second national champion in track and field, joining high jumper Rob Appell (1985, outdoor).

Danitz is seeded fourth in the 200 with a school-record run of 21.59 seconds on Feb. 21 at Grand Valley State University.

All of the national qualifiers have posted sub 22-second times this season.

The University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse's Sam Blaskowski holds the top seed at 21.34 seconds, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Londyn Little (21.47) and Illinois College's Dylan Doss (21.51).

A two-sport athlete, Danitz is the reigning MIAA champion in the men's 200 meters.

This is Danitz's second appearance in the NCAA Championships this school year. Last fall, Danitz competed in the NCAA Division III football playoffs as a defensive end, helping the Flying Dutchmen win the first postseason game in team history and reach the third round for the first time.

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Players Mentioned

Liam Danitz: Junior; Exercise Science

Players Mentioned

Liam Danitz
: Junior; Exercise Science