Men's Track and Field | 03.02.2022

BROOKINGS, S.D. – LC State Track and Field will send two relays and four individuals to South Dakota to compete at the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 3-5. The races will be held at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex, one that many of the senior-heavy national qualifiers are familiar with.
 
"Looking forward to being back in the Dakota's," Head Coach Mike Collins said. "A lot of high expectations and with us coming home last year with every qualifier earning All-American honors. We may have a tough time repeating that feat, but we will be working hard to do that. Two relays and four individuals make it a nice mix."
 
THE MEN
Recently named USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year, senior Clayton VanDyke brings much anticipation into this national meet. After qualifying in five events and setting four school records this season, VanDyke chose to race in the 800m. The Vernal, Utah, native has been voted the Cascade Conference Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week three times this season and was twice the national weekly award winner. His talent, combined with his national experience, will make for an exciting race. VanDyke is seeded first heading into the 800m prelims with a time of 1:50.29. Semifinals for the event are set for Friday, March 4 at 1 p.m. PT.
Another fifth-year senior, Cole Olsen heads into the meet after an impressive winter of his own. Olsen is seeded third in the 3,000m with a time of 8:16.29 and is no stranger to national racing. The Clearwater, Idaho, native is coming off a strong race that set a program-best time (8:16.29) and broke the record set in 2016 by Olympian and Warrior alum Sam Atkin. Olsen currently holds the third-fastest time in the NAIA and earned his 16th overall conference weekly honor of his career this season. He has earned three All-American honors in cross country and one in track, and has a promising opportunity to be a five-time All-American by the end of the meet. The prelims in the event will take place on Friday, March 4 at 2:15 p.m. PT.
 
The distance medley relay team will feature a combo of Dillon Dawson, VanDyke, Brycen Brown, Carter Gordon, and Olsen. The team heads into the event with as the 22nd seed and a time of 10:16.91. The exact quartet that will run is yet to be determined. The team will be fighting for a spot to advance to finals on day one of the meet, Thursday, March 3, at 4 p.m. PT.
 
"On the men's side, Clayton is the favorite in the 800m and I know he is very motivated," Collins said. "He and Cole come into this championship with a wealth of experience, which will help them both. Cole should be in a good position for an All-American finish in the 3k, but he also has a guy in the field that has already run some of the best times in the world this year at all levels. The DMR team also has a tough row to hoe to make the finals, but like the women's 4x400m relay team, should be fresh and will definitely battle for a spot in the finals."
 
 
THE WOMEN
Fifth-year senior Emily Adams will race in the 3,000m and enters the event seeded 17th with a time of 10:24.89. Adams placed third in the event at the 2020 indoor nationals and earned All-American status and a career-best time. She earned her fifth conference weekly honor this season after a strong performance at the WSU open that put her in the top half of an NCAA Division I-heavy field. Between cross country and track, Adams brings much national racing experience to South Dakota in her final indoor race as a Warrior. She will compete in the semifinals at 1:55 p.m. PT on Friday, March 4.
 
Madigan Kelly, the freshman and Lewiston native, will compete in the 60m hurdles and is entered with a time of 8.92 to give her a position as the 17th seed. Kelly has had a dominant freshman debut, with multiple standout performances in the event. She has earned three conference weekly honors in her first year as a Warrior and is also a member of the 4x400m relay qualifying team. Kelly wasted no time this season in setting the 60m hurdle program record time, solidifying her spot at nationals with an automatic standard and earning the top spot in the Cascade Conference. Prelims for the event will be on March 4 at 10:35 a.m. PT.
 
The 4x400m relay team of Ashley Britt, Karlie Smith, Anika Grogan, and Kelly come into the event seeded ninth with a time of 3:56.67. Britt, Grogan and Smith were all members of the 2021 indoor All-American team that placed eighth in the same facility. Just on the bubble of an All-American seed spot, the squad will be battling to advance to the finals and secure a top-eight spot to earn the honor again. Prelims will be held Thursday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. PT and will be the first event for the Warriors at the three-day meet.
 
"On the women's side, our 4x4 team has some good history and experience at this level and I am sure they will be vying to make it to Saturday's final," Collins said. "They have not run a 'fresh' 4x4 all year, so we should see them take a nice step forward in this effort. Will be a great experience for freshman Madigan Kelly. Finals will be a stretch as she is in one of the most competitive events where experience is worth a lot, and regardless of the outcome I know she will be pressing with her very best. Emily has been here before in much the same position and came home with a top-three finish, so hoping for a repeat performance. She has been training very well."
 
Follow along with Warrior Track and Field by tuning into the live results. The links to live results and live streams can be found on the track and field schedule pages on lcwarriors.com.
 
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