Sweeping success

For the first time in program history, Mines’ men’s and women’s track & field teams swept the team titles at the RMAC Indoor Championships this spring, holding off challenges from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs to bring home a pair of championships.

Altogether, the Orediggers collected eight gold medals, 10 silver medals and eight bronze medals, propelling the men’s and women’s teams into RMAC history. Here are some of the highlights from the competition:

Loic Scomparin was named the 2024 RMAC Indoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Meet. Scomparin claimed a first-place finish in the men’s 5,000-meter race and second-place finishes in the 3,000-meter and mile races.

Hannah Miller’s pole vault of 4.27 meters set a new RMAC women’s all-venues pole vault record and moved her to the No. 8 overall vault in NCAA Division II history. 

Aidan Bennet and Hunter Potrykus claimed a co-title in the men’s pole vault with vaults of 4.96 meters. 

Scomparin and Zoe Baker earned gold medals in the men’s and women’s 5,000-meter race. 

Everett Delate earned a repeat 60-meter hurdles crown. 

Aryelle Wright and Tim Thompson swept the men’s and women’s 800-meter run, with Wright winning a new RMAC Championship record time of 2:09.68.

Aani Hardesty, Randi Higashi, Grace Galvin and Aryelle Wright made up the 4×400 relay team, earning a gold-medal finish with a final time of 3:50.28, the second-fastest time in program history and a track record.

Sportswoman of the Year

Sportswomen of Colorado named Mines pole vaulter Hannah Miller as the 2023 Colorado Sportswoman of the Year in college track & field.

In one of the nation’s strongest track & field states, Miller stood out for her incredible 2023, which included the NCAA Division II indoor pole vault national championship and the outdoor national silver medal. Mines’ Female Athlete of the Year, Miller earned USTFCCCA First-Team All-America honors in both seasons, was a First-Team Academic All-American and was the RMAC Field Athlete of the Year indoors. She broke the program and RMAC indoor pole vault records at 4.16 meters and had an outdoor best of 4.17 meters. Her national title was the first for Mines women’s track & field since 2004, as she cleared five bars without a miss in Virginia Beach. 

Miller earned her Mines degree in quantitative biosciences and engineering in December 2023 and is currently competing in her final season of eligibility. Her 2024 season best of 4.11 meters ranks third in NCAA Division II. 

Founded in 1974, Sportswomen of Colorado is a community-based organization that supports and honors female athletes, celebrates their achievements and recognizes those whose efforts have advanced girls’ and women’s individual and team sports endeavors. 

For more on Mines Athletics, visit minesathletics.com.