The Hope College men's track and field team struck gold on the final day of the MIAA Outdoor Championships, winning six events on Friday at Alma College.

Sprinter Liam Danitz led the haul with three gold medals, including two individual and one relay. 

Runners Erickson Kunzler, Ian Petruska and Dylan Terpstra all clocked first-place performances for the Flying Dutchmen, who finished the two-day, seven-team meet in third place after scoring 171 points.

"It's fun to win events, and we won a lot of events," head coach Kevin Cole said, referring to the men's and women's teams, who combined for 12 gold medals. "We placed really high in a lot of different things. I'm most excited for the seniors to go out with some victories. We didn't quite have the depth to take the championship this year, but that happens. I think the team is looking really good now and in the future."

Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights HS) became the eighth Flying Dutchmen sprinter to win the 100- and 200-meter runs in the same MIAA Outdoor Championships.

In the 100, Danitz clocked a first-place of 10.68 seconds, 0.13 ahead of runner-up Zion Jackson from Trine University. Danitz is Hope's ninth MIAA champion in the event.

In the 200, Danitz recorded a winning run of 20.94 seconds, 0.45 ahead of the second-place Jackson and ranking the junior third in the nation this season. Danitz is Hope's 11th MIAA champion in the event.

Junior Nolan Sanders (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow) finished sixth at 22.19.

In the 400, Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) clocked a first-place time of 48.67 seconds, edging Calvin's Koby VanderWoude by 0.06. 

Terpstra is Hope's third 400-meter MIAA champion, joining Elliott Barney (2010) and Phil Cratty (1992).

In the 800, Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) became the Flying Dutch's 14th MIAA champion after recording a run of 1:54.31 and edging senior Lucas Guidone (Chicago, Illinois / Taft), who finished at 1:54.36.

Senior Joshua Ennen (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) took sixth with a PR 49.70.

In the 1,500-meter run, Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins) crossed the finish line first at 3:53.08, 0.15 ahead of runner-up Max Van Huis from Trine. It marked the fifth consecutive time a Flying Dutchmen runner won the event and the 19th time overall.

Three of Petruska's teammates also scored in the race: senior Connor Vachon (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) in fourth at 3:53.87, freshman Elias Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) in fifth at 3:57.23 and senior Tyler King (Villa Park, Illinois / Willowbrook) in seventh at 3:59.18.

The 4x400 relay of Terpstra, Ennen, freshman Gavin Bush (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Birmingham Seaholm) and Danitz raced to a winning time of 3:16.81, topping runner-up Calvin by 1.69 seconds. It's Hope's third title in the event.

Hope earned silver medals in three more events.

In the javelin, sophomore Matthew Bir (Wenatchee, Washington / River Academy) finished runner-up with a PR toss of 52.10 meters (170 feet, 11 inches).

Junior Wil Pinkerton (Ann Arbor, Michigan / Pioneer) placed fourth with a throw of 50.92 meters (167-0).

In the 5,000 meters, junior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) finished runner-up at 14:52.01, second to Calvin's Thaine Nedeverld (14:50.32).

Two of Cole's teammates also earned points. Freshman Logan Begeman (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central) took fourth with a PR 14:55.69. Petruska was sixth at 15:08.89.

In the 4x100 relay, Hope posted a runner-up effort as Sanders, Terpstra, Danitz and Trumble clocked a time of 41.50. Trine won at 41.17.

Hope scored in four more events on Friday.

In the 110-meter hurdles, freshman Logan Lipka (Frankenmuth, Michigan / Frankenmuth) posted a fifth-place run of 15.58.

In the men's triple jump, Lipka recorded a sixth-place leap of 12.65 meters (41-6). 

In the 400-meter hurdles, senior Samuel Miller (Zionsville, Indiana / Zionsville) finished runner-up after a PR run of 55.15, trailing only Calvin's Bob Horton (53.34). 

Lipka placed fourth at 58.98. Freshman Kevin Barifagok (Las Vegas, Nevada / Cristo Rey Saint Viator) was eighth with a time of 58.98.

Trine captured its fifth consecutive MIAA championship by totaling 210 points, five more than runner-up Calvin. Hope finished ahead of fourth-place Albion College (104), The University of Olivet (68), Adrian College (35) and Alma College (20).