Men’s Track & Field Takes Third at MIAC Outdoor Championships

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SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s track & field team took third place at the 2019 MIAC Outdoor Championships, totaling 98 points. On day two of the meet, the Gusties garnered three event champions, highlighted by Michael Hensch (Sr., North Branch, Minn.) completing the grand slam of throwing events.

Hensch is the first student-athlete in the history of the MIAC to win all four throwing events at the conference championships. On Friday, he won the hammer and discus, and on Saturday he won the javelin with a throw of 190-08 and the shot put at 54-5.5.

“It’s very special for him to win all four throws, I’m floored by that and never even considered it would happen,” said Tom Thorkelson, who has been the Gustavus throws coach since 1985. “The beauty of it is that this year is one of the toughest years in the history of the MIAC as far as competition goes. The top hammer throwers in the country are in our conference, all kinds of All-Americans, and he was able to come through.”

When asked where Hensch stacks up against all the great Gustie throwers, Thorkelson said, “He’s as good as any of them. I’m not saying he’s better, but he’s as good as any thrower I’ve coached. He’s certainly in the top two or three that have ever thrown at Gustavus and we have had some good ones.”

“What Mike has done for the program is unprecedented,” Head Coach Dale Bahr added. “He is irreplaceable. He gets his work done and pushes others. He just has this calmness about him. He’s all business and you never know when he is going to unleash the next big throw.”

Taylor Rooney (So., Andover, Minn.) also won a MIAC title, taking first in the 110 hurdles, crossing the line in 14.15.

Here are the top Gustie marks from Saturday’s events:

100 meters

6. Taylor Rooney – 10.97

800 meters

6. Noah Johnson – 1:56.93

1500 meters

10. Bridger Pavelka – 4:11.43

5000 meters

9. Andrew Stumbo – 15:14.55

110 hurdles

1. Rooney – 14.15

3000 steeplechase

7. Alex Wischnack – 9:52.66

4×100 relay

4. Jack Blaney, Xander DuMoulin, Wyatt Quirring, Rooney – 42.83

4×400 relay

5. Dylan Gast, Ben Madigan, Jack Schugel, Johnson – 3:22.07

Pole vault

13. Nelson Finne – 13-3.5

Triple jump

5. DuMoulin – 43-10

Shot put

1. Michael Hensch – 54-5.5

Javelin

1. Hensch – 190-08

“Everybody that scores plays a role and when the competition is as close as it is, you are battling for every single point,” Bahr said. “Noah and Xander stepped up and it gives us a bright light for the future. It’s fun to have the sophomore in Rooney as well as the freshmen to score. Noah had a great race. Next year he’ll be maintaining position in the front of the pack. Xander has a lot of improvement to go with his technique and I have no doubt he’ll be better next year. Matt Montplaisir just missed the triple finals and he runs the 4×100 as well so things look bright in the coming years.

“I could not be more proud to break into the top five and move up from there,” Bahr said. “You don’t move up in the top five very easily. The guys have done exactly what we’ve asked of them all year and it’s paid off.”