After a n unforgettable beginning, the Ashland University Track & Field team now has a chance for an unforgettable finish.

In a season marked by the loss of the legendary head coach Jud Logan, the Eagles now have a chance to honor his legacy and make a mark on their season by taking home the GMAC Championship.

The Eagles have amounted a great season so far, taking home countless meet victories. Most notably, the team hosted the Jud Logan Light Giver Open, the inaugural meet for the newly built Niss Athletic Center. The Eagles defended the Niss with a victory and multiple athletes performing at high standards. Six Eagles improved on their personal records and six others collected new provisional marks for the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships.

“The season has gone really well so far,” sprinter and hurdler Trevor Bassitt said. “We’ve had a lot of people step up and perform at a high level. I know we’re all really excited for the GMAC Championships and to make a statement in our new conference. Despite having to overcome a ton of adversity, which is a testament to the team we have here, we’ve all dedicated this season to Jud Logan so we’re going to give everything we have every step of the way.”

Logan was in his 17th year as the head coach of the program and had been working with the team for 28 years. Logan’s impact on the track and field program was prevalent throughout the Ashland community.

Following Logan’s passing, Former Assistant Coach Jacob Sussman has stepped into a huge role, taking over the reins as interim head coach.

“They took the news of me becoming the interim pretty well, and I have embraced that,” Sussman said. “We as a team realize that we are all in this together.”

Ashland is set to square off in the GMAC Championships in Findlay, Ohio on Feb. 25 and 26. The Eagles, who have dominated Division II in recent years, will once again send athletes to compete in the NCAA Championships on March 11 and 12, in Pittsburg, Kan.