Mankato, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s and women’s indoor track and field team competed in its second meet of the season on Saturday afternoon, taking part in the Ted Nelson Classic held in Myers Field House on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. No team scores were kept at the meet as the competing field included MSU-Mankato, St. Cloud State University, and Augustana College.
Turning in wins on the afternoon was Eric Jorgenson (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.), Josh Owens (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Hayley Solheim (Fy., Crookston, Minn.). Eric Jorgenson crossed the finish line ahead of the field in 1:58.73, while Owens continued to excel in the pole vault, clearing a season-best 4.91 meters for his second straight win. Solheim continued to impress in just the second meet of her college career, winning the shop put competition with a toss of 12.87 meters, besting her other first place mark set last weekend at St. Olaf.
Field competitors stole the show on the women’s side, as Ally Voss (Sr., Wausau, Wis.), Elizabeth Weiers (So., Le Center, Minn.), and Sarah Swanson all posted finishes on the podium. Voss cleared 3.56 meters to finish runner-up in the pole vault, Weiers recorded a toss of 13.83 meters to place third in the weight throw, and Swanson turned in a throw of 12.04 meters for a third place mark in the shot put.
Courtney Branch (Fy., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Rachel Colter (So., North St. Paul, Minn.) rounded out the women’s team’s top performers. Branch was the top runner on the track, placing third in the 1,000-meter run (3:13.68), while Colter came in fourth in the shot put (11.91 m).
On the men’s side, Blair Riegel (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) registered three top five finishes on the afternoon. On the track, Riegel took third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.78 and fourth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.10. The junior also added a second place mark in the long jump after posting a leap of 6.59 meters.
Rounding out the top male competitors was Ryan Obele (Jr., Le Sueur, Minn.) and Pat Tracy (Jr., St. Louis Park, Minn.). Obele came in second in the weight throw with a toss of 15.67 meters, and Tracy finished behind him in fourth with a toss of 13.89 meters.
The Gustavus indoor track and field teams will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 9 when they head to Northfield, Minn. to take part in the Meet of Hearts.