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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Deliver Records, Qualifiers at GVSU Big Meet

Trailblazers Deliver Records, Qualifiers at GVSU Big Meet
Results Results
February 14, 2026

ALLENDALE, Mich. — Vincennes University Men's and Women's Track and Field competed Friday and Saturday at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet, facing elite NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA competition in one of the premier indoor meets of the season. First-year head coach Michael Mangan called it "a great weekend of competing against elite talent across D2, D3 and NAIA schools" as the Trailblazers continued sharpening form ahead of championship season.

Friday

The women opened the weekend in the 5,000 meters, where freshman Elizabeth Smith delivered a national qualifying performance of 18:03.15, finishing second in her heat and moving to second in VU history. Sophomore Alexis Hale followed with a personal-best 19:25.57. In the 600 meters, sophomore Sarra Belgacem posted a personal-best 1:40.15, climbing to fourth in program history.

Freshman Ikram Dorai continued her record-setting season in the mile, finishing fifth overall with a personal-best performance that improved her national qualifying mark and VU record. Distance Coach Tyler Steigenga said, "This was one of Ikram's best races of the season. She paced it well and closed hard over the final 400 meters to dip under five minutes and take nearly nine seconds off her school record."

The momentum carried into the men's competition, where freshman Iheb Slimani set a new school record in the open mile, finishing first overall in 4:07.35 to improve his national qualifying mark. Steigenga noted, "Iheb deserved the invite section but had to do the work on his own, taking the lead 600 meters in and winning unchallenged."

Saturday

Saturday began with another strong showing from Smith, who added a second national qualifier in the 3,000 meters, running 10:32.28 to move to fourth in school history while finishing second in her heat and 16th overall. Hale followed with a personal-best 10:55.60, while freshmen Rorri Bottum (6:07.30) and Josie Lade (6:03.99) each posted personal-best miles. Freshman Olivia Chambers-Greer recorded personal bests in both the 60 meters (8.81) and 200 meters (29.27). The women's Distance Medley Relay — Belgacem, freshman Brielle Seiler, freshman Madison Senne, and Dorai — secured a national qualifying mark in 12:31.70, moving to second in school history.

In the field events, freshman Kapri Granger improved her national qualifying mark with a personal-best, second-place clearance of 3.52m, ranking ninth in program history, while freshman McKenna Poyser won her flight with a clearance of 3.07m. Mangan said, "Kapri and McKenna had another great day on the runway. These two are continuing VU's strong pole vault tradition."

On the men's side, the Distance Medley Relay — sophomore Anis Abdaoui, freshman Travon Lane, freshman Jacob Kusbel, and Slimani — set a school record and earned a national qualifying mark in 9:59.25, winning their heat by 6.5 seconds. Steigenga said, "The guys had to run much of the race solo in the slower heat, but they got the job done — school record, national qualifier, and a convincing heat win. I'm proud of them and excited to see what they can do with competition pushing them."

The men's 4x400 relay — sophomore Devin Wilson, sophomore ArTezz Butler-Sanders, Kusbel, and freshman Travon Lane — moved to fourth in school history with a time of 3:18.21. Mangan added, "Huge race from our men's 4x400 relay. All legs ran well to move us into the top 20 in the NJCAA."

Freshman Evan Dailey posted personal-best performances in both the 3,000 meters (9:18.48, second in his heat) and the mile (4:44.09), winning his mile heat with a decisive final-lap kick. Freshman Youssef Dridi added season-best efforts in the 3,000 meters (9:02.57) and 800 meters (2:02.13). Freshman Avery Lambirth recorded a personal-best and first-place heat finish in the 60-meter hurdles (9.16), and freshman Jaden Yates posted a personal-best 7.94 in the 60 meters. Butler-Sanders added an indoor personal best in the 400 meters (51.36).

In the throws, freshman Zackary Hembree delivered a nearly six-foot personal best in the shot put (13.65m), while freshmen Jesse Huff (12.76m) and Jared Dunkel (11.26m) also recorded shot put personal bests. Freshman Nate Robertson added a personal best in the weight throw (14.43m).

Steigenga summarized the weekend's depth, saying, "There were so many strong performances. A lot of our athletes were pulling double or triple duty and still delivered. It's a great preview of the demands we'll see at nationals." Mangan added that the meet served its purpose as the postseason approaches. "This was exactly the type of competitive environment we needed at this point in the season. We're building momentum and fine-tuning details as we head toward championship meets."

VU returns to action February 21 at the ISU Open, hosted by Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, for its final preparation before the NJCAA Indoor National Championships.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Men's and Women's Track and Field squads all year long through a number of ways: