SAINT PETER, Minn. – Women’s cross country runner Tierney Winter (Sr., Waterville) and men’s swimmer Nolan Larson (Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa) have been named Gustavus Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Month, which is voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department and presented by Thrivent Financial.
Tierney Winter
Women’s Cross Country
Hometown: Waterville, Minn.
Major: Management
Parent: Tina Asplund of Waterville, Minn.
Winter started the month at the MIAC Championships, taking second place in a field of 210 runners. Her time of 21:56.9 was then the ninth fastest 6k time in program history with all eight faster times owned by one person. Winter’s second place finish at the conference championship was also the best by a Gustie since Hailey Harren won the MIAC title in 2006. Two weeks later, Winter competed at the NCAA Central Region meet and took sixth place out of 209 runners with a time of 22:39.2, earning All-Region honors and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Winter then capped her standout season at the national meet, finishing the race with a personal best time of 21:51.1, marking the seventh fastest 6k time in school history. Winter earned the program’s first All-America honor since 2006 with an 18th place finish.
Nolan Larson
Men’s Swimming
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa
Major: Political Science
Parents: Mark and Kathy Larson of West Des Moines, Iowa
Larson could not have started his season any better after winning all four of his events against UW-Stevens Point on Nov. 2, helping the Gusties defeat the Pointers for the first time since 2007. Larson’s performance, which earned him MIAC Athlete of the Week, was especially impressive given the fact he won the 100 butterfly, 200 IM, and 400 freestyle relay in consecutive order without a break. The following week against St. Olaf, Larson set a Vic Gustafson Pool record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:43.60, breaking an 11-year old record. He also won his other two events and posted the fastest time in an exhibition race to earn his second MIAC Athlete of the Week honor. Larson competed in three events at Macalester on Nov. 16, winning two and taking second in the other. And at the Grace Groblirsch Invite on Nov. 23, Larson won four of five events and place second in the other. After one month of competition, Larson owns the MIAC’s fastest times in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly, 200 IM, 400 freestyle relay, and 200 medley relay.