NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Gustavus track & field wrapped up the MIAC Indoor Championships on Saturday at Carleton College with the women taking second place and the men finishing sixth. Saint John’s captured the men’s title and Bethel claimed the women’s championship.
Elizabeth Donnelly captured a MIAC championship in the 600-meter with a time of 1:34.72. Birgen Nelson also captured a title in the 200-meter with Megan Geraets right on her heels for second place. Nelson finished in 25.77 and Geraets at 25.79.
In the field, Madi Kes and Annika Poe earned MIAC titles. Kes won the triple jump with a facility record distance of 37-2.25 on her sixth and final jump, while Poe won the shot put with a heave of 45-3.5.
The 4×400 relay team of Donnelly, Makenna Huetten, Geraets, and Nelson finished second with a score record time of 3:55.98, which is also top-10 in Division III this season. The previous 4×400 relay school record was set in 2000 by Laura Carlson, Stacy Horner, Erica Stone, and Kajsa Larson in 3:57.09. The 4×200 relay team of Geraets, Ally Rakow, Danielle Miller, and Nelson took second with a time of 1:45.78, just shy of the school record.
Iliana Ramon finished fifth in the 3000-meter, clocking in at 10:19.57.
On the men’s side, the 4×200 relay team of Peter Oviguian, Seth Zeitchick, Nathan Le, and Wyatt Quiring placed third in 1:31.69. Quiring also took seventh in the 200-meter at 22.95. Noah Johnson and Tyler Smith scored in the 600-meter in fifth (1:24.88) and eighth (1:25.37) place, respectively. Tucker Wallin took eighth in the 1000-meter at 2:35.58.
Zeitchick, Noah Johnson, Jack Marble, and Quiring took sixth in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:30.12.
In the field, Cole Matetich finished fifth in the high jump, clearing 6-3.25. Jackson Fischer scored in the shot put at sixth place with a mark of 45-11.25.
“For our women’s team, we scored well over our projected amount that we had going into the meet,” Head Coach Aaron Lund said. “The events that we didn’t score what we were seeded, it took a national level performance to beat us. We had champions, school records, and many personal bests when it mattered the most. We are a well balanced, championship caliber program with a ton of character and sportsmanship. Our team works incredibly hard behind the scenes so I am super happy that the hard work is paying off. I saw a lot of smiles and hugs over the weekend. We will definitely enjoy this moment and after the national championships, we will turn our focus to the outdoor season.”
Gustavus next competes at the Wartburg Qualifier on March 4 before sending individuals to the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 11-12.