The Hope College men's track & field team stands in second place after the opening day of the MIAA Indoor Championships, presented by Collegiate Credit Union.

The Flying Dutch totaled 45 points on Friday, trailing Calvin (75) and holding a slim advantage over host Trine University (43). The University of Olivet (23), Adrian College (22), Kalamazoo College (15), Alma College (8) and Albion College (3) round out the eight-team field heading into the final day of Saturday, Feb. 28, at 11 a.m.

Head coach Jordan Bartolazzi was pleased with his team's performance on Friday.

"A great first day for our team. Nothing ever goes exactly as you'd plan at a conference meet, and our group responded well, Bartolazzi said.

Hope's top finish of the day came in the 4,000-meter distance medley relay. 

The quartet of senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), senior Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan/Catholic Central), junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) and junior Ian Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado / Fort Collins) captured the MIAA title in a league-record time of 10, 26.51 seconds to earn 10 team points.

Freshman Lincoln Phillips (Dorr, Michigan / Hamilton) delivered a runner-up finish in the long jump, leaping 6.62 meters (21 feet, 8¾ inches) to score eight points for the Flying Dutchmen.

In the high jump, freshman Carter Marquard (Shelbyville, Michigan / Wayland) cleared 1.93 meters (6-4) to place fourth and add five points.

Freshman Josh Bruxvoort (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) also scored in the long jump, finishing fifth with a mark of 6.55 meters (21-6) to earn four points.

Hope added distance points in the 5,000 meters as sophomore Noah Norris (Ann Arbor, Michigan / Washtenaw Academy) placed seventh in 15:26.53 to score two points. Sophomore Cooper Jacobsen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) followed closely behind in eighth at 15:26.59, adding one point.

In the weight throw, junior D.C. Rounds (Westland, Michigan / Orchard Lake St. Mary's) secured an eighth-place finish with a toss of 14.57 meters (47-9¾) to contribute one point.