INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The participants of the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships were announced today and five Gustavus student-athletes were accepted to compete in six events.
Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) returns as the defending national champion in the 100-hurdles with a national-leading time of 13.32. Nelson, who is making her third consecutive appearance at the national meet, will also compete in the 400-hurdles. Her time of 59.87 ranks fourth. Last year at the outdoor championships, Nelson finished second in the 400H.
Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) also makes her third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships. Poe ranks third in the shot put with a mark of 14.90 meters. Poe took sixth place in the shot last year.
Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) will compete in her second national championship, ranking 21st in the triple jump with a mark of 11.89 meters. Kes took 17th place in the triple jump in 2021.
Two other Gusties will make their debut on the national stage. Megan Geraets (So., Mankato) will run the 200-meter after being accepted as the 22nd and final entry with a time of 24.74. And Joshua Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato) was accepted in the hammer throw with a 20th-ranked distance of 57.93 meters.
The five Gusties are the most to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2010 when Gustavus had five women compete in a two events (4×400 relay and heptathlon) and five men compete in three events (4×400 relay, 800-meter, shot put).
The championships will be held May 25-27 at the Polisseni Track & Field Complex at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, N.Y.