Lansing Sun

Three Michigan State University athletes concluded their participation at the NCAA Track and Field East First Round in Lexington, Kentucky. Graduate student Lauren Freeland's notable performance did not secure her a spot in the NCAA Championships.

The event's conclusion saw only two Spartans advancing to the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Graduate students Ryan Talbot and Heath Baldwin qualified for the men's decathlon with top-12 season-best scores in the East region. The championships are set to begin on June 5.

Ryan Talbot, ranked seventh in the East, is joined by Heath Baldwin, who holds the top rank in the region. Despite reaching the finals in the 110m and setting a fifth school record at regionals, Baldwin will skip the NCAA Championships to prepare for the US Summer Olympic Trials happening two weeks later. He was named MSU Athletics George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year in 2023 and is a five-time All-American. Currently, he ranks as U.S. No. 1 and World No. 3 in decathlon after achieving an NCAA seventh-best all-time score of 8470 at Mt. SAC Relays.

On Saturday, Lauren Freeland competed in the 1500m finals with a personal record of 4:12.53, marking MSU's third-fastest time historically but narrowly missing advancement to nationals. Her race marked the end of her five-year career.

Graduate student Katie Osika finished her season placing 22nd in the 5K but retains eligibility for return in 2024-25. Junior Opal Jackson began MSU's day by triple-fouling in discus.

Talbot returns to East Lansing for training ahead of his participation from June 5-8 at Hayward Field while Baldwin prepares for U.S. Olympic Trials starting June 21, leading up to Paris Summer Olympics' decathlon beginning August 2.