Men's Track and Field | 12.10.2021

LEWISTON, Idaho – LC State Track and Field is gearing up for the start of its 2021 indoor season, which begins on Friday at the Spokane Invitational. The meet take place at the new world-class track venue in downtown Spokane called The Podium, and this will also be the debut event for the facility. The Warriors are coming off an impressive indoor season last year, with every athlete who qualified for nationals coming home an All-American.
 
"Excited about starting the track season, although I am not sure I have recovered from cross country at this point," Head Coach Mike Collins said. "For our track-only kids and coaches, they are about to climb the walls they are so excited to go, and it is infectious.  We made this early season meet one of choice and of reward for the kids, so those that are going should be prepared and mentally ready for competition."
 
THE WOMEN
The Warrior women return a familiar group of faces but have also added depth to their roster with many new ones. Three out of four members of the All-American 4x400m relay team in senior Karlie Smith, junior Ashley Britt and sophomore Anika Grogan are back, and will be joined by many talented new athletes for this year's season. Britt also earned All-American honors in the indoor 600m last year with an eighth-place finish and had a strong 2021 outdoor season.
 
The Warriors also return fifth-year senior Emily Adams, who has taken advantage of her extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. Adams recently wrapped up her cross country season where she came away with all-conference honors and now has sights set on indoor track.
 
Adams, an All-American in both cross country and track, is joined by fellow cross country teammates Maja Plaznik, Rylee Brown and Geraldin Correa. The group earned All-American honors as members of a 4x800m relay team in the 2021 indoor season. Senior Callie Johnson will enter her fourth track season as a Warrior, along with Brown and Plaznik.
 
Correa, a sophomore, is back after an outdoor season where she earned all-conference honors in the 800m and 1500m, finishing as the runner-up in both.
 
THE MEN
The men also have a strong group of returners but have added members to the family. The Warriors return the "three C's" of Clayton VanDyke, Chase Barrow, and Cole Olsen, all of which chose to use their extra year of eligibility granted by the NAIA. The trio recently finished their cross country season with a trip to nationals, and Olsen brought home an All-American honor with a ninth-place finish.
 
VanDyke, Barrow and Olsen also all earned All-Cascade Conference awards and will bring much experience to their last indoor season. Barrow has earned two All-Americans in cross country, Olsen is a six-time All-American between the two sports, and VanDyke is a five time All-American between the two as well. VanDyke was the 2021 indoor National Runner-Up in the 1,000m.
 
Senior Andrew Carlyle is back after qualifying for outdoor nationals last season in pole vault. Last year set the school record in pole vault at 4.70m and won the event at the Bucs Scoring Invitational.
 
Seniors Jaycob Atencio, Dillon Dawson, Nikolous Bertling, and Connor Turpin all return for their fourth season as a Warrior. Turpin took home an All-American honor after finishing third at the 2021 outdoor nationals in the marathon.
 
THE DETAILS
The Warriors will compete at The Podium for all but one meet in the regular season this winter. Idaho will host the Lauren McCluskey Invitational Memorial Open in Moscow on Jan. 22. The NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships are set to take place in Brookings, S.D. on March 3-5.
 
"The Podium is an amazing facility and to compete there at its inaugural meet is special," Collins said. "Looking forward to the day as we may even see a few national qualifiers come out of the mix."
 
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.