ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College outdoor track and field teams are prepared to contend for Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) titles this spring. The program will participate in seven qualifying meets before the MAC Championships, including two home events at Arnold Field. LVC will close out the season with the MAC, All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC), and NCAA Championships.

LVC's track and field program is coming off an indoor campaign in which both the men's and women's teams won MAC Indoor Championships, becoming the first school to accomplish that feat since 2009. During the last outdoor season, Lebanon Valley's men's outdoor track and field team captured its second consecutive MAC Championship. The College's women's outdoor track and field team also delivered a strong showing at the 2025 MAC Outdoor Championships, placing second. This spring, each squad will be in pursuit of finishing at the top of the conference.

"We are always focused on taking it a week at a time and getting better as the season progresses," Head Coach Melissa Byler said. "Our ultimate goal is to win both conference championships; however, we have a lot of work to do and need to keep everyone healthy."

Both teams return several impactful performers in all events. Sophomore Anna Sawicki is coming back for the women's team after a standout debut outdoor season, in which she excelled in multiple events to win an individual MAC title in the heptathlon. Many key distance and mid-distance runners are returning as well, including seniors Elijah McKell and Joe Chukoskie, and junior Rory Lieberman for the men's squad. Last spring, McKell won an individual MAC Championship in the 800 meters, Chukoskie won a conference title in the 10,000 meters, and Lieberman won an individual conference championship in the 5,000 meters. The Dutchmen also expect sophomores Andrew Namatka and Wyatt Leitzel to make an impact. On LVC's women's team, senior Coyla Bartholomew won an individual MAC title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last year's MAC Championships. The women's team also returns three members of its 4x800-meter relay team that won a MAC title last spring, including seniors Abigail Hunt, Autumn Garges, and Sierra Kapcsos.

The rosters for the Flying Dutchmen feature sprinters who will aim to build on their success from their last campaign. The women's squad expects junior Mileyska Calderon and sophomore Ava Matter to be point scorers in their sprinting and relay events, following a 2025 season in which they both earned All-MAC Second Team honors in the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x100-meter relay. Junior hurdler Abbie Reed was also on the 4x400-meter relay team that garnered All-Conference recognition. The men's team will depend on senior sprinter Donovan Goundie and junior sprinter Colin Winters, who each garnered All-MAC Third Team accolades in the 4x100-meter relay at last year's MAC Championships. Additionally, LVC will look to first-year sprinter and jumper Leo Tirado to make an impact in his events.

The Dutchmen will rely on its field athletes for key efforts this spring as well. Graduate student thrower Michael De Falcis is coming off a 2025 outdoor season in which he won an individual MAC title and earned Second Team All-America honors in the javelin throw. The men's squad will also look to graduate student thrower Aonghas Evanick, who is coming off an outdoor campaign in which he collected All-MAC Second Team accolades in the discus throw. Additionally, LVC expects first-year thrower Jordan Klinger to play an important role. Lebanon Valley's women's team will also look for contributions from sophomore jumper Tola Oyinkolade.

LVC will begin the spring campaign by hosting its Mini Home Meet on Saturday, March 21, at 9 a.m., at Arnold Field. The following weekend, the Dutchmen will host the Blue & White Open on Saturday, March 28, at 10 a.m., at Arnold Field.

The Dutchmen will compete in four more qualifying meets before the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held from Thursday, April 30 to Saturday, May 2, and hosted by Messiah University in Grantham, Pa. The program will then aim to travel to the AARTFC Championships on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14, at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa.

The Flying Dutchmen will also hope to qualify student-athletes for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, which will be held from Thursday, May 28, to Saturday, May 30, in La Crosse, Wis. Lebanon Valley's men's track and field schedule can be found here, and the women's track and field schedule can be found here.

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