The Gustavus men’s track and field team had a strong showing at the Van Nelson Open hosted by St. Cloud State University on Saturday afternoon in St. Cloud, Minn. To team scores were kept at the meet.
Blair Riegel (Lakeville, Minn.) was the top Gustavus performer of the day, recording one event win and three finishes on the podium. Riegel crossed the finish line in 22.55 to win the 200-meter dash, edging MSU-Mankato’s Anthony Gustafson by 0.11 seconds. The sophomore also recorded a leap of 21’ 7.25” to take runner-up in the long jump, and ran a 7.06 to place third in the 60-meter dash.
Fresh off of being named MIAC Field Athlete-of-the-Week for his performance at the Ted Nelson Classic, Josh Owens (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) turned in his third-consecutive first place mark of the indoor season after clearing 15’ 3” in the pole vault. Cameron Clause (Mankato, Minn.) finished second in the pole vault behind Owens.
Other top performers on the track included Eric Jorgenson (Maple Grove, Minn.), Tanner Davenport (Ham Lake, Minn.), Mark Bartley (Blue Earth, Minn.), Chad Claybaugh (Excelsior, Minn.), and Matt Dvorak (Burnsville, Minn.).
Jorgenson finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:03.02, and third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.61. Davenport rounded out the mid-distance with a third place mark in the 1000-meter run in 2:36.65.
In the distance races, Bartley led the way with a second place mark in the 3000-meter run after going 9:01.32. Claybaugh registered the fourth fastest time in the mile after running a 4:48.55.
Matt Dvorak rounded out the group with a fourth place finish in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.13.
The Gustavus men’s track and field team will travel to Collegeville, Minn. on Saturday, Feb. 18 to compete in the SJU/CSB Quadrangular beginning at 11:00 a.m.