Indoor Track and Field: New feats

KAITRISS DEGROFT
STAFF WRITER

3/16/2026

The Alma College Indoor Track and Field teams wrapped up their season with the MIAA championships at Trine University on Feb. 27 and 28. 

The women’s 4th-place team finish at the indoor championship is the best since the MIAA recognized indoor track and field as a sport in 2016, and the highest in an MIAA track and field championship meet since 2015.

Alma College was also able to host the first-ever MIAA Combined Events Championship at the Andrus Family Field House on Feb. 16 and 17, featuring both the heptathlon and pentathlon. 

The men’s team had seven podium finishes at the championship meets, and the women had eleven podium finishes. There were three medalists on the women’s side in pole vault, shot put and the pentathlon. 

Throughout the course of the entire season, there were two new men’s school records set and five new women’s school records set, capping off a successful season with outstanding performances. 

Among these athletes, Callen Hagey (’26) attributes his success in men’s shot put to his coach and plenty of consistent practice. 

“My success has come from my coach, this being my third season, having only one main event for indoor, and lots of drills at practice,” said Hagey. 

He improved his personal best from 13.7 meters last year to 15.1 meters this year, breaking the previous school record. 

Helena Snyder (’26), who broke school records in both the Women’s Pentathlon and Women’s High Jump this season, notes these as important performances for her. 

“The highlights for me this season have been breaking the indoor high jump and pentathlon records. My teammate Lauren Brawt also picked up the pentathlon and training together pushes me past my discomfort because I look forward to training long hours with her,” said Snyder. 

Snyder said the accomplishment also reflects how much she has improved since joining the team.

“Over the years, my biggest improvement has been my ability to trust myself. I plateaued for a while in high jump, and being my main event, I was very discouraged when I didn’t see the results I knew I was able to achieve. I continued to trust myself and my effort paid off this season,” said Snyder. 

Mathew Chovanec (’91), the head coach for the Alma College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Teams, Indoor Track and Field teams and Outdoor Track and Field teams, acknowledges the field house as a large contributor to success this season. 

“No doubt that the field house has had a tremendous impact on everything that has occurred. The fact that we now have a facility that allows us to train each event group no matter what the weather is outside has allowed us to be more consistent in what we want to accomplish week to week with workouts,” said Chovanec. 

Building on the advantages the new facility provides, Chovanec said the team is now focused on continuing its growth and improving performance moving forward.

“The continued growth of our mindset and performances, as well as building on the success of what was accomplished during the indoor season,” said Chovanenc.