Lansing Sun

Spartan Track & Field is set to begin its outdoor postseason at the Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The event will take place from May 10 to May 12, with the Spartans' top 70 athletes competing. They aim not only to score points for team standings but also to qualify for the NCAA Eastern Regional. This preliminary round will be held in Lexington, Kentucky, from May 22-25.

Reflecting on past performances, last year's Big Ten Outdoor Championships saw Spartan men finish eighth out of 13 teams, while the women placed 11th. During this season's indoor championships in February, both teams ranked 11th.

Recent events have highlighted significant achievements by the Spartans. At the GVSU Extra Weekend meet, MSU's throws squad achieved podium finishes and sweeps. At the Penn Relays, Spartan relay teams secured second-place finishes twice among national competitors. Graduate student Taryn Hankins won the 100m at the Len Paddock Invitational.

The Virginia Challenge was notable for personal records (PRs) achieved by many Spartans. Pole vaulters Sophia Mettes and Adam Blue secured victories at the Jim Green Invite with Mettes achieving a PR of 4.27m and Blue clearing five meters for the first time.

Heath Baldwin's performance at the Mt. SAC Relays marked him as a contender for the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games with a decathlon score meeting Olympic standards. His score also broke both Big Ten conference and MSU school records.

At other meets like the Bryan Clay Invite and JMU Invite, Spartans continued their success with several wins and personal bests. The Spartan Invite saw graduating seniors contributing significantly to event wins on home grounds.

In March, during Raleigh Relays and Clyde Hart Classic events, Spartans delivered solid performances across various specialties including sprints and field events.