ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Gustavus track & field team had a strong start to the MIAC Outdoor Championships, as Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) and Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) both broke MIAC records in their events. The Gustie women sit in third after day one with 35 points while the men are in sixth with 24.
Nelson and Bethel hurdler Kelsie Sealock dueled for the top time in the 100-hurdles preliminary round, each taking first in their heat, and each breaking the conference record. Nelson ran a 13.59 and Sealock a 13.54 to pace the conference, breaking the existing mark of 13.71 held by Nelson from 2022. The two times rank third and fourth in NCAA DIII this season. Two more Gusties will join Nelson in the 100-hurdles finals tomorrow, as Danielle Miller (Jr., Waconia) and Lauren Dimler (Fy., Janesville) qualified with times of 15.14 and 15.24, respectively.
Nelson was impressive in two more events, posting the top time in the 100-meter at 11.80, breaking the 11-year-old conference record with the ninth fastest time in NCAA DIII this season. Kate Carlson (So., Inver Grove Heights) also qualified for the 100-meter finals, finishing fourth in the preliminary race with a time of 12.29.
Nelson led the way in the 400-hurdles with a time of 1:00.99, four seconds better than her next competitor. Nelson’s time is the sixth fastest in DIII this season. Three more Gustie hurdlers qualified for the finals, as Dimler, Makenna Huetten (So., Eagan), and Lauren Rocheford (Fy., Inver Grove Heights) will all race in the finals tomorrow.
Megan Geraets (So., Mankato) was impressive for the Gustie women as well, leading the 400-meter with a time of 58.14, qualifying for the finals tomorrow with the top time. Geraets also added the top time in the 200 (24.74), and will be joined by Carlson in the finals, who won her heat with a time of 25.10.
In the field for the Gustie women, Annika Poe was the headliner, smashing the conference shot put record with a mark of 48-10.75 (14.90 meters), breaking a 10-year-old record of 14.58 meters to win the conference title. Poe’s throw replaces her own on the NCAA leaderboard this season and the third-farthest. Kelley Brennan (So., Shakopee) added All-Conference honors in the shot put as well, finishing third with a toss of 40-11.75.
Jenna Bunker (So., Delano) picked up four points in the pole vault with a mark of 9-10.00 (3.00 meters), finishing fifth overall. Three Gusties picked up points in the long jump, led by Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) with a distance of 17-10.25 to finish fourth. Lili Guy (So., Glendale Heights, Ill.) finished just behind her in fifth with a jump of 17-09.00, while Geraets added a seventh-place performance with a distance of 17-08.25.
For the men, Wyatt Quiring (Sr., Fairmont) qualified for the 400-meter finals with a time of 48.77, good for second in his heat and fifth overall. Quiring also qualified for the the 200-meter finals with a time of 22.16, good for eighth overall. Sam Schulze (So.) is the sole Gustie qualifier in the 400-hurdles, finishing with a time of 57.10 in the preliminary round, while Mark Rud (Fy., Waconia) qualified for the 800-meter finals with a time of 1:57.63.
In the men’s field events, Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato) won the conference title in the hammer throw with a toss of 183-02. Zack Stordahl (So., Cary, Ill.) finished with All-Conference Honorable Mention honors in the discus, placing sixth with a toss of 132-02. Danny Bies (So., New Hope) finished third for the All-Conference honor with a mark of 6-03.25 in the high jump.
For the distance crew, Evelyn Villalobos (Jr., Crystal) picked up three points in the 10k for the Gusties, finishing sixth with a time of 38:13.77. Logan McCullough (Jr., Waverly, Iowa) matched her sixth place finish with one of his own, adding three more points for the Gustie men with a time of 32:22.70 in the 10k.
With eight events complete, Saint John’s holds a narrow lead in the men’s team standings with 79 points, followed by St. Olaf with 75 points. In the women’s team standings, St. Olaf has a 76-60 lead over Saint Benedict at the end of day one. Finals in all remaining events will be conducted Saturday afternoon.