After a 2024-25 season that included Hillsdale's first individual national champion since 2021, anticipation is high for what should be another banner season for the Chargers men's and women's track and field program.

Hillsdale enters the campaign, which kicks off this week, with a modified coaching structure. Jessica Bridenthal, who spent seven years as an assistant, has stepped into the head coaching job for the track and field program, while previous head coach R.P. White remains on the staff as an assistant and retains his head coaching position with the Chargers cross country program. By splitting the head coaching positions for track and field and cross country across multiple individuals, the program hopes to make better use of its resources to benefit both programs.

On the track and in the field, Hillsdale returns several decorated and talented individuals. The headliner is senior Ben Haas, a two-time national champion in 2024-25 in the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw. Haas will look to repeat in both events this year while also taking aim at the indoor and outdoor shot put titles after qualifying for the national meet in both events last season.

Haas is joined by several past All-Americans looking to add to their trophy cases for the Chargers. Sophomore Allison Kuzma was an All-American in the women's outdoor 10K in 2025 and enters the track season with momentum after an All-American finish in cross country in November. Senior Ross Kuhn, an All-American in the men's outdoor 1,500, senior Tara Townsend, an All-American in the pole vault, and senior Averi Parker, a past All-American in the women's shot put, also return for their final season with big ambitions.

Along with All-Americans, Hillsdale has several athletes who earned provisional qualifying marks in 2024-25 who will look to break through in 2025-26. On the men's side, Gabriel Phillips in the distance races, Jackson Childress in the discus, Connor McCormick in the pole vault and Colsen Conway in the hurdles all will look to take the next step, while on the women's side Anna Roberts in the steeplechase, Lucy Minning in the 100 and 200m dash, Sarah Chappelle in the hurdles, Olivia Newsome in the weight throw, Baelyn Zitzmann in the high jump and pentathlon and Francesca Federici in the sprints all aim for their first national meet qualification as individuals.

Hillsdale has plenty more strong athletes who will look to make the leap as well, and as always, there's a large crop of freshmen who could make an instant impact in several events to challenge records, earn provisional marks and boost the Chargers' team performance.

The Chargers women placed third as a team in the G-MAC both indoors and outdoors, and will battle conference powerhouses Ashland, Findlay, and Tiffin in the title race. The men are looking for improvement after placing seventh as a team in both indoor and outdoor meets, and with a much deeper lineup should be able to contend for a move up in the standings.

Hillsdale kicks off the season this week, with the Chargers hosting a Mid-Week Multi meet focusing exclusively on the pentathlon and heptathlon on Wednesday and Thursday, before heading to Grand Valley to start the season in full this weekend.

The Chargers will host a variety of home meets this season, including two more indoors in the Biermann Athletic Center -- the Wide Track Classic on Jan. 23, and its annual Tune-Up invite on Feb. 21. Outdoors at the new track at Hayden Park, Hillsdale will welcome outside competition for its annual crown jewel event, the 56th edition of the GINA Relays, on April 16 through 18. The Chargers also host a major postseason meet in Hillsdale on April 29 through May 1 as the Chargers once again put on the G-MAC Outdoor Championships. You can find a full schedule at https://hillsdalechargers.com/sports/mens-track-and-field/schedule.