The Gustavus Adolphus men’s indoor track and field team sits fourth after the opening day of competition at the 2007 MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield. Gustavus has 39 points, while St. Thomas leads all teams with 123 points. Andy Klaers (Jr., Loretto, Minn./Delano) won the weight throw with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 57-7 3/4, while Tyler Geyen (So., Watertown, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) took the 55-meter hurdle title in 7.77 seconds. Ben Treichel (Jr., Webster, Wis.) placed second in the 400 (50.25) and Drew Hood (Jr., Mankato, Minn./West) took second in the heptathlon (4346 points).
Klaers’ effort ranks tenth-best in Division III this winter, tentatively placing him in the field at next weekend’s NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana. Geyen’s 7.77 narrowly missed the school record of 7.74 set by Tanner Miest (Sr., Willmar, Minn./New London-Spicer) last season.
Competing in the heptathlon for the first time, Hood nearly broke the school record of 4384 points set by Jared Hokenson last season. Hood also placed sixth in his heat of the 55 hurdles (8.73).
The Gusties also picked up team points in the 800 where Jake Fourre (Fr., Corcoran, Minn./Buffalo) finished seventh (1:59.33) and in the distance medley relay where the team of Chris Ward (Sr., Mapleton, Minn./Maple River), Dan Marti (Sr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.), Fourre, and Alex Zupan (Sr., Monona, Wis./Monona Grove) took eighth (10:55.17). Marti also placed seventh in his heat of the 55 dash (6.87) but was unable to advance to the final, while Zupan placed 13th behind Fourre in the 800 (2:01.21).