Record-breaking start for Indoor Track and Field

CARALYNN HOFSTRA
PHOTOGRAPHER

JORDAN FOX
COPY EDITOR

2/3/2025

The Indoor Track and Field season started with a bang as the program watched four records fall in the team’s first four meets.

At their season opener on Dec. 6, Aiden Aldrich (‘28) crushed the 400-meter dash record in his first-ever collegiate indoor track and field race. The record, previously set in 2024 by Landon Jennings (‘24) with a time of 51.34 seconds, was improved to a stellar 51.01.

Aldrich was not done breaking records. At the Jack Skoog Open hosted by Central Michigan University on Jan. 17, he broke the 600m record and placed first at the meet. Aldrich’s time of 1:24.46 broke the record that was set back in 2011 at 1:24.69. 

Even more, at the Doug Hansen Open hosted by Saginaw Valley State University on Jan. 24, Aldrich bested his time in the 400m to take first place with a time of 50.96 seconds. 

“It felt incredible. It was a mix of emotions: pride, relief and excitement. All the hard work and sacrifices paid off. It’s a huge moment, but I know it’s just a stepping stone toward even bigger goals,” said Aldrich. 

On the women’s side, stand-out Helena Snyder (‘26) broke the high jump record in her first competition of the season. Her jump of 1.60m (5-foot-3) tied her for second place at the Jack Skoog Open and took down the record of 1.58m (5-foot-02.25) previously set in 2014. 

Both Snyder and Aldrich were recognized by Alma College Athletics for their record-breaking performances and were named “Scots of the Week” on Jan. 20. Additionally, Snyder received the MIAA “Athlete of the Week” title for Women’s Indoor Track and Field on Jan. 21. 

“Being recognized for my accomplishments always means a lot to me. It goes to show that hard work and overcoming obstacles does pay off. I’m coming off… a stress injury back in July, so the doubts of not achieving what I once did lessen when others recognize all the effort I have made to get where I am today,” said Snyder. 

At the most recent meet on Jan. 31, the WHAC vs. MIAA Challenge hosted by Aquinas College, fan-favorite Lauren Brawt (‘27) returned to the 600m race and broke the school record she set last year with a time of 1:42.97, beating her old record of 1:44.31 by over a second. 

“It feels really good to know that we’re ahead of [where] we’ve been before [in] years past and… it’s exciting that they’re setting a mark for people in the future to follow,” said Matthew Chovanec, Head Coach for the Men and Women’s Track and Field team. 

“[It] just shows that our program is moving in the right direction… We know what we’re doing is working and that’s the plus and that’s what makes it exciting,” said Chovanec.

In addition to the multiple broken records, the top 10 all-time lists continue to change as both athletes from the track and field sides better their marks and move up the rankings. 

At the Doug Hansen Open, Aldrich ran the #5 all-time 200m with a time of 23.19 in addition to besting his record in the 400m. In the weight throw, Ryan McGuire (‘27) and Callen Hagey (‘27) moved up #3 and #4, respectively. On the men’s side, the 4×400 team of Aldrich, Will Maginity (‘25), Leland Edelyn (‘27) and Phillip Banner (‘26) ran the #4 all-time.

On the women’s side, Dakota Booher (‘25) ran the #9 all-time in the 60m dash, Brawt ran the #6 all-time 200m in 27.61 seconds and Jordan Fox (‘26) moved up to the #3 spot in the 800m. The women’s 4×400 team of Brawt, Sophia Sanford (‘27), Fox and Snyder are now #8 on the all-time list. 

The Scots have three more meets before the MIAA Indoor Field Day at Trine University on March 1, where the team hopes to see many podium finishes and new improvements on the top 10 lists.