The Ferris State track and field teams are getting ready for one of the biggest meets of the year, the outdoor Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC) Championship. This meet is not only big because of the conference implications, it is also huge because it is being hosted by the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs haven’t had any home meets this season because earlier this year The Bulldog Open was canceled due to inclimate weather. This isn’t big just to the team, but it means a lot to senior Damonta Madden.
“We don’t have a lot of track support at our school as it is. We don’t have like an indoor track or anything like that, fancy equipment. So it’s very very interesting because we get to host it, we got a lot of new stuff, we got a lot of money from the GLIAC and other schools are going to pay for a lot of stuff for us,” Madden said.
Madden is working on sprints as his only event in the outdoor GLIAC Tournament Championship.
“It’s very exciting because we finally have a home track meet, a lot of people and a lot of competition,” said Madden. “It’s senior year; it’s go big or go home.”
Junior Hunter Redman is also excited to finally have a home meet and have other Bulldogs come out and support.
“I think it is great to finally have a home meet for the Bulldogs. It’s a great chance for Ferris to support the track team in their absence of home meets for roughly a three-year span. It’s good to get a new track and break it in for the outdoor GLIAC championship,” Redman said.
The Bulldogs haven’t had a track championship on the men’s team since 1991. After finishing in 11th place in the indoor championship, the Bulldogs will be looking to come out strong and prove they deserve to be hosting this event.
The women’s team also hasn’t had a championship in over 36 years according to the Ferris state athletics records that date back to 1980. The women’s team finished in 14th place in the indoor championship and tied with Lake Superior State.
The Bulldogs will be looking to knock off rival Grand Valley as they have won the past two years in both the men’s and women’s.
“Grand Valley has been a tough contender for us every year. With the resources they have, along with opportunities to compete at big meets, it’s hard but we can still pull out first place positions, like Logan Hammer, who has done a good job in the distance events this outdoor season. Also, Tiffin has been a tough team with some runners who are running national qualifying times, ” Redman said.
The GLIAC Championships take place at Top Taggart Field on Wednesday, May 4, through Friday, May 6, with the first event is set to start at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.