INDIANAPOLIS- The G-MAC indoor track & field season is off and running as teams opened up the 2025-26 season with a variety of meets all over the country. Opening weekend was highlighted with several student-athletes hitting provisional marks to qualify for the national championship in Virginia Beach this year.
On the women’s side, the Ashland Eagles will look to claim their third straight title. The Eagles competed at the SVSU open to kickoff their 2025-26 campaign. Molly Winner, who returns as one of the nation’s top throwers, hit a provo mark in both the shot put and hammer throw. Leslie Pollock followed up with a weight throw provo mark of 20.29m. Jade Avance followed suit, winning the 800m run with a time of 2:10.71. The trio are all returning after earning a spot on the all-conference list last season.
Hillsdale Freshman Anna Roessner recorded a 60-meter time of 7.36. Her time is the fastest in G-MAC history to date and qualifies her for the national meet. Allison Kuzma is the top returner for the Chargers. She earned first-place in the 1,500m run at the conference championship, while leading the team to a second place finish. Kuzma is coming off an outstanding cross country season, where she qualified for the national meet after earning Runner of the Year honors. She has already hit a provisional mark in the 5,000m run this season, clocking a time of 16:19.68 at the GVSU Holiday Open.
Findlay placed third at the conference meet last season and return a depth of talent. Junior Leah Smith hit a pair of provisional marks over the weekend in the 200-meter (24.25) and 60-meter (7.46). Smith returns after earning all-American status in the 4x400 relay, 200m, and 60m last season. The duo of Katharina Rupp and Mary Ellis both hit provisional marks in the 400m race, clocking times of 55.21 and 56.14, respectively. The Oilers won the G-MAC crown in 2022 and 2023 and will look to reclaim the title.
2025 National Champion Ben Haas picked up right where he left off , placing first in in the weight throw with a distance of 21.33 meters. He went on to hit another provisional mark in the shot put with a throw of 17.24. Haas currently holds the conference record in the weight throw at 22.89m. Haas and the Chargers finished seventh at the conference meet last season.
Returning champions Tiffin will look to claim their fifth G-MAC Indoor Title under first-year head coach Mark Del Monaco. Monaco and the Dragons will look to replace national champion Joshua Page, but return all-conference thrower Kevin Hornbeak. Ramon Rodriguez, who is coming off a stellar cross country season, already hit a provisional mark in the 5,000m run over the weekend, clocking a time of 14:03.46 at the Boston University Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Rodriguez is joined by teammate Louis Ginane as two of the league’s top distance runners.
A handful of Oilers hit provisional marks during opening weekend, with K.J. Upshaw leading the way with the fastest 60m time in the conference at 6.80. Senior Julian Griffin recorded a 60m hurdle time of 8.04, good for a provisional mark. All-Conference selections Simon Derstine and Sherron Jones also return for the Oilers as they look to win their fourth indoor title.
Ashland finished third at the conference championship and will look to hoist the G-MAC indoor trophy for the first time in program history. Freshman Jon Lutz shined during his first collegiate meet, hitting a provisional mark in the 60 hurdles with a time of 8.01.
2025 Freshman of the Year Joel Brown returns for Walsh after an outstanding rookie season. Brown was the number one ranked freshman last season in the heptathlon and broke the Walsh program record. He finished second at the conference meet with 5,040 points to meet the national qualifying standard.
Track and Field programs will continue to compete after the holiday break. The Great Midwest Championship will take place February 27 and 28 in Ashland, Ohio.