With seven Spartans competing in eight events, Mattix said the team has a lot to be proud of as it faces the top track and field athletes in the nation. Each event has 24 participants, and the top-eight finishers will earn points for their teams.

“It shows that Michigan State is coming; we’re doing work,” Mattix said. “A few years ago, I feel like it wouldn’t be like that. And I think last year we qualified with six, but this year we have seven. We still had a few that should have gone to nationals and just didn’t.

“So as far as the program, we have so much talent and so much hidden talent too.”

MacLeod will compete in the 5,000-meter run after she earned her personal best time of 15:57.57 in the opening rounds, which concluded on May 28. In the event last season, she finished sixth at nationals and earned her first All-American honors.

Earlier this season, MacLeod captured the 5,000-meter Big Ten title at the conference championships on May 15.

“Getting (to nationals) is a step in the right direction, and I think it’s something she’s grown to expect,” director of track and field Walt Drenth said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how that race turns out because she’s ready to run.”

Appearing in two events for MSU, Rohl returns with high hopes of winning her first national championship. She will compete in the hammer throw and discus — which she took fifth place in at last season’s championships.

Rohl — the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year — posted a 55.94-meter toss to win her the Big Ten Title for the discus throw.

Continuing to lead from experience, Pugh will compete in the men’s discus throw after finishing sixth at the opening rounds with a 55.74 toss.

“(MacLeod, Rohl and Pugh) are able to maintain a pretty high level of competitiveness and consistency,” Drenth said. “I think that going back to nationals for the three of them, there’s advantages to having been in that arena.

“They get a little more comfortable, (and) I think that they’ll all have pretty high expectations when they get there.”

For her first time out, Lawrence will join Rohl in the discus throw after she recorded a personal record toss at 53.01 in the NCAA opening rounds. Drenth said she’s had a greater sense of urgency and purpose as a senior and, because of that, she pulls through for the Spartans at championship events.

Mattix — who earned a personal best and first place in the pole vault at the opening rounds — stands as the only vaulter from Michigan competing in the national championships. While wanting to score points for MSU by finishing in the top eight, he said if he performs the way he did to get himself to the meet, he’ll earn his spot as an All-American.

“Being able to represent my state and my school is exciting,” Mattix said. “People can look at me and say, ‘Wow, Michigan State is doing something good with their vaults because they have a vaulter at nationals.’ So I’m really excited to get a chance to be an All-American, and that’s huge.”

Stacey — who won the triple jump at the Big Ten Indoor Championships this season — will compete in the long jump for MSU as a true freshman. With her fourth-place finish at the opening rounds, she posted a school record with a 6.33-meter jump.

Hill completes the Spartans traveling to Iowa, and he’ll compete in the shot put after placing eighth in the opening rounds with an 18.12-meter throw.

“I think everyone’s ready,” Rohl said. “This regional meet really helped everyone get ready. The people who made it to nationals got out there and competed. They earned their spots, and they’re ready to go.”