Hope College’s Alison Rich has been named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Field Athlete for the 2018 season by the league’s coaches.
The senior from Haslett, Michigan (Haslett HS) helped the Flying Dutch win the MIAA
team title last week in Adrian.
It is the 11th time a Flying Dutch student-athlete has been selected an MIAA MVP in
outdoor track & field.
Hope head coach Kevin Cole said Rich has been such an important contributor to the
team for the past four years that it is great to see her achievements recognized.
“She scored points for us in five different events for Hope at the conference meet,
and we could not have won without her,” Cole said. “She is also someone who makes
everyone else on the team better with her drive, example, and attitude. She has likely
qualified for nationals once again and will hopefully end her career with another
All-American performance in the heptathlon.”
Rich headlines an All-MIAA team that includes three teammates: sophomores Addyson
Gerig of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa) in the high jump, Chelsea Miskelley of Holland,
Michigan (Black River) in the 800 meters, and Hailey Pickelheimer of Powell, Ohio
(Olentangy Liberty) in the 400-meter hurdles.