BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gustavus men’s track and field field thrower Michael Hensch (So., North Branch, Minn.) and Head Coach Dale Bahr highlighted the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Awards, Hensch being named the Outstanding Field Athlete while Bahr received Coach of the Year honors, released Thursday.
Hensch earns the Outstanding Field Athlete honor after recording a pair of great performances in the hammer and javelin throws at the MIAC Outdoor Championships over the weekend. Hensch won the hammer throw with a personal-best and national top-20 heave of 182-8 on Friday prior to setting a Gustavus record and career-best javelin throw of 206-08, finishing over 20 feet ahead of the runner-up and 25 feet further then his previous personal best throw.
Coach Bahr earns his first Coach of the Year honor, leading the Gusties to a third-place finish with a team score of 87 points at the Outdoor Championships after the men finished ninth during the Indoor Championships. In his eighth season at the helm, he guided the men to three individual MIAC titles and a total of six All-Conference nods.
Three other Gusties claimed All-Conference honors. Evan Jones (Sr., Pella, Iowa) finished first in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 32:48.36. Thomas Knobbe (Sr., Decorah, Iowa) finished just behind Jones at 32:10.13 to finish third. Jones was also the runner-up in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:28.30.
Ed ReMine (Sr., Mantorville, Minn.) was the runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 54.35.
In addition, Will Neuenfeldt (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) was selected to the All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team.