Sweigart Returns to Indoor Nationals in Weight Throw

Anderson University men's track and field senior Michael Sweigart punched his ticket to the NCAA D-III Indoor Championships in the weight throw for the second time in his career.

Last year, Sweigart secured ninth place at indoor nationals with a mark of 18.85 meters (61 feet, 10.25 inches). The Alexandria native was named a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Second-Team All-American with his finish. Sweigart posted a school-record distance of 19.55 meters (64 feet, 1.75 inches) during last Saturday's Polar Bear Final Qualifier to move him up to sixth on the NCAA D-III weight throw leaderboard.

"I'm excited for Michael to be back at the Indoor National Championships," Coach Nic Huffman said. "After getting the school record last week, he is confident and ready to do his best when his best is needed. He has really grown as a person and a leader this year and handled my challenge of controlling his emotions during competition. I'm ready to see what he can do. I have a feeling it will be something big. Either way, I'm proud of who he is."

"Looking into nationals, I'm hoping to put everything together that we've been working on, and hopefully come back with something really amazing to show for it since we're in the running for the No. 1 spot," Sweigart added.

Sweigart competes in the weight throw of the NCAA D-III Indoor Championships on Friday at 10 a.m. in Rochester, N.Y. at Golisano Training Center.