Taylor Rooney (Nathan Lodermeier photo)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s track & field team scored 31 points to sit in seventh place of 11 teams after day one of the 2018 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships Friday at Macalester College.
Taylor Rooney (Fy., Andover, Minn.) led the Gusties with a MIAC Indoor Record time of 8.15 in the 60-meter hurdles, contributing 10 points to the team score while breaking the previous record of 8.40 – set by Joe Wistricill of St. Thomas in 2012.
“Rooney winning the hurdles was huge and he continues to tear it up as a freshman, which is exciting to see,” said Head Coach Dale Bahr.
Nelson Finne (Jr., Elgin, Minn.) competed in the multis for the Gusties, jumping up to finish sixth and score three team points after sitting in 11th of 18 participants after day one of the heptathlon on Thursday. Finne’s top performance came in the high jump, tying for second place with a leap of 6-00.50.
Ben Madigan (Jr., Kohler, Wis.) and Michael Hensch (Jr., North Branch, Minn.) each turned in fourth place finishes and five team points. Madigan crossed the finish line at 1:57.85 in the 800-meter run, while Hensch posted a career indoor best weight throw of 54-10.
Individually, two other Gusties scored team points, along with the distance medley relay squad.
Ryley Sandberg (Sr., Polk City, Iowa) came in seventh in the mile run at 4:24.98, while Andrew Stumbo (Fy., Boone, Iowa) finished the 5,000-meter run at 15;24.79, good for sixth place.
“We had some strong showings today,” said Bahr. “It was nice to have guys like Finne, Sandberg, and Madigan step up to grab some points for us.”
Coming into sixth place in the distance medley relay at 10:47.09 was the team of Nick Kerbeshian (Fy., Plymouth, Minn.), Daniel Trentacoste (Sr., Orland Park, Ill.), Brennan Gustafson (Fy., Kasson, Minn.), and Alex Wischnack (Jr., Norwood Young America, Minn.).
“I think tomorrow is going to be a big day for us, we didn’t have everyone run full-tilt today,” Bahr commented. “We’re looking to see these guys bounce back and score some more points.”
Gustavus wraps up competition at the Indoor Championships from the Leonard Center tomorrow morning as day two events are scheduled to begin with the high jump at 10:15 a.m.