SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus track and field teams will be back in action for their first meet of the season Saturday as they travel to Arden Hills for the Gene Glader Classic. The meet is set to begin at the Bethel University sports and recreation center at 10 a.m.
Head Coach Aaron Lund is in his second season at the helm of the Gustie track and field programs. Four Gusties ended the season earning All-American and All-Region honors for the 2019-20 indoor track and field season. Steven Orzolek (Jr., Darwin) (shot put), and Taylor Rooney (Sr., Andover) (60m hurdles) from the men’s team and Birgen Nelson (So., Edina) (60m hurdles) and Tierney Winter (mile) from the women’s team were set to compete before the season was cut short due to the pandemic. However all are set to return to compete in the 2021 season with the exception of Winter.
Many of our winter sport coaches have already talked about this pandemic and I think their message is spot on,” said Head Coach Lund. “We can only control so much, so instead of worrying about everything, we try to focus our energy into being the best version of ourselves every day. The student-athletes that will be the most successful this year and beyond are the ones that approach every day with a relentless enthusiasm, a will to win, a positive attitude, and goals so strong that obstacles and constant bad news only makes the desire to succeed even greater.”
On top of last season’s success, Nelson holds All-American honors and a school record in the 60m hurdles (8.81) which was previously held by Rachel Studer (Sr., Maple Grove) who broke the record earlier in the season (9.58).
Studer, DeAnna Giles (Sr., Plymouth), and Sara Moen (Sr., Blaine) were named captains for the upcoming season. Moen broke the 600m school record (1:37.52) in the 2019-20 season.
All-Conference returners include Nelson and Elizabeth Donnelly (So. Langley, Wash.) in Distance Medley Relay. All Conference Honorable Mention returners include Moen, Arianna Burmaster (So. Brooklyn Center) in 200m dash, Kourtney Kulseth (Sr., New Richland) in 3000m and 5000m, Annika Poe (So., Big Lake) in shot put, and Iliana Ramon (Jr., Fairmont) in 5000m.
Other returners to watch (women’s):
Mackinzee Miest (Jr., Saint James) – Miest finished last season 21st in the 3000m and 12th in 5000m at Indoor Conference.
Doris-Klein Mor (Jr., Saint Peter) – Mor concluded her 2019-20 campaign with a seventh place conference championship finish on pole vault (3.25m).
Annalee Olson Sola (Jr., Northfield) – Olson Sola plans to pick up where she left off after competing in the indoor conference championship in shot put where she finished 13th last season.
The men’s team will be led this season by Rooney, Orzolek, and Wyatt Quiring (Jr., Fairmont). Rooney broke school records in both the 60H (8.00) and the high jump (6’8.25”) before the season finished.
All conference returners include Rooney and Orzolek. All conference honorable mention returners include Quiring, Xander DuMoulin (Jr., Shorewood) in long jump and triple jump, Garet Grant (Jr., Winona) in 5000m, and Noah Johnson (Jr., Stillwater) in 600m.
Other returners to watch (men’s):
Andrew Stumbo (Sr., Faribault) – Stumbo had a successful 5000m at SDSU with a time of 15:18.9 and plans to make a significant impact on the team in the 3000m and 5000m this indoor season.
Jack Degonda (Jr., Stillwater) – Degonda’s final event of the 2019-20 season was at MSU-Mankato where he finished 3rd in the 1000m (2:37.08).
Seth Zeitchick (So., St. Paul) – Zeitchick’s best performance in the 400m last year was 52.31 at the Maverick Invitational that qualified him for the conference championships.
Connor Gag (Jr., New Ulm), Josh Beiswanger (So.), Victoria Adebisi (So., Saint Paul) are three competitors that did not see significant time in indoor events last season but are names to watch as they make strides in the 2021 indoor season
“Our team is ready and excited to take advantage of every opportunity. It is a special moment to put on that Gustie gold jersey, compete with your family, and know that you represent all the Gusties that competed their heart out in all of the decades before you.”