MANKATO, Minn. – Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) and the Gustie men’s distance medley relay competed at the Minnesota State University-Mankato Massive Meet on Friday and turned in a couple school record performances.
Nelson ran an 8.46 in the prelims of the 60-hurdles and then improved her time to 8.41 in the finals, taking second place to MSU-Mankato’s Denisha Cartwright who ran a facility record 8.07, which is also the second fastest time in Division II history. Nelson now owns the top three 60-hurdle times in NCAA Division III history (8.38, 8.39, 8.41) and five of the top 10 marks.
Nelson also raced the 60-meter, running a 7.74 in the prelims and then a school record 7.66 in the finals, finishing in fourth place against Division II competition. Her time of 7.66 currently ranks fifth in Division III this season.
The men’s distance medley relay team of Tyler Smith (So., Norwood Young America), Wyatt Quiring (Sr., Fairmont), Markus Rupnow (So., Mankato), and Tucker Wallin (Sr., Red Wing) turned in a time of 10:16.00, breaking the previous school record of 10:16.26 set in 2010 by John Kennedy, Matt Leeb, Carson Smith, and Max Hanson. The splits for Friday’s DMR were 3:09 for Smith in the 1200-meter, 0:49 for Quiring in the 400-meter, 1:58 for Rupnow in the 800-meter, and 4:18 for Wallin in the 1600-meter. The time of 10:16.00 currently ranks 11th in Division III this season.
The Gusties continue competition at the MSU-Mankato Massive Meet tomorrow as well as the Saint John’s Invitational.