MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s and women’s track & field teams posted a number of impressive performances at the NSIC Outdoor Challenge on Saturday, hosted by Minnesota State-Mankato.
The men’s 4×100 relay team of Dylan Gast (Jr., Dellwood), Taylor Rooney (Sr., Andover), Xander DuMoulin (Jr., Shorewood), and Wyatt Quring (Jr., Fairmont) finished in first with a time of 41.60, which ranks ninth in NCAA Division III. It’s also the fastest 4×100 a Gustavus relay team has put together since 2012. Julia Severson (So., St. Cloud) won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:57.40. Jack DeGonda (Jr., Stillwater) took second in the 1500-meter, crossing the line in 4:06.39. Rooney finished second in the 110-hurdles with a wind-legal school record time of 13.96. In the 100-hurdles, Birgen Nelson (So., Edina) placed fifth at 14.21 and her time of 14.06 in the prelims improved her own school record. Nelson then had a school record-setting performance in the 400-hurdles with a first-place time of 1:01.95, breaking Danielle Burgmeier’s 2012 record by nearly two seconds. Her 400-hurdles time ranks third in Division III.
Tucker Wallin (So., Red Wing) clocked a time of 1:58.97 in the 800-meter to place fourth. Jeremy Gilbertson (Sr., Maple Plain) took second in the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:47.99. The men’s 4×400 relay team of Gast, Jack Marble (So., Eden Prairie), Agro Gushwa (Fy., Geneva), and Trygve Capistrant-Kinney (So., Minnetrista) placed second in 3:28.84. In the 200-meter, Quiring took fourth with a time of 21.92, which ranks first in the MIAC.
In the field events, Josh Beiswanger (So., Mankato) whipped the hammer throw a lifetime best 175-6 to place second at the meet and jumped into second in the conference. Rachel Erickson (Jr., Starbuck) threw the javelin 108-7.25, taking fourth. DuMoulin leaped a personal best 22-11.25 to take fifth in the long jump (1st/MIAC) and cleared 46-0.75 in the triple for fourth place. Just moments before running the 4×100 relay, Rooney cleared 6-8.75 in the high jump to break a three-way tie school record that sat at 6-8 since Phil Rogosheske in 1966. Jared Hokenson tied the mark in 2005 as did Brody Ziegler in 2013.
Annika Poe (So., Big Lake) launched the orb 45-5 to take fourth in the shot put. Her mark ranks second in the MIAC and fifth in the country. On the men’s side, Steven Orzolek (Jr., Darwin) took fourth as well with a throw of 53-7.75.
“It was a great day to be a Gustie in a sprint or field event today,” Head Coach Aaron Lund said. “With the warm weather and great competition, our team showcased some incredible performances. For our longer sprints, mid-distance, and distance, the effort was amazing today, but the hot temperatures made it a little more difficult. I loved the energy we brought today and we definitely gave it our best. We had three event winners and 22 top-five performances. Our men’s team took second and our women’s team took fourth today. With tough competition and some great Division II teams here, we held our own and proved to ourselves that anything is possible this year. It was a great day for the Gusties and I know the team is really excited about the opportunities ahead for conference and nationals.”
The Gusties are next scheduled to compete at the MIAC Outdoor Championships May 14-15.