COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Both the Gustavus men’s and women’s track & field teams took second place Saturday at the CSB/SJU Invitational. In 18 total events for each gender, the women scored 142 points while the men totaled 109 points.
“I’m really proud of the way our team competed today,” Head Coach Aaron Lund said. “We were running with such a sense of purpose and so much confidence. It was great to see so many season bests and personal bests as we aim to peak soon for the championships. It was also great to see big improvements in tactical running, curve mechanics, and poise under pressure. Our team is working incredibly hard at perfecting their craft and it’s great to see the hard work really paying off.”
The Gustie men won four events on the day. Tyler Smith (So., Norwood Young America) won the 600-meter with a time of 1:23.47 with Markus Rupnow (So., Mankato) right behind in 1:25.04. Tucker Wallin (Sr., Red Wing) took first in the 1000-meter at 2:35.63. Jake Wielgos (Sr., Elburn, Ill.) and Trevor LaVigne (Sr., Farmington) went one-two, respectively, in the 3000-meter at 9:04.03 and 9:12.54. And the 4×200 relay team of Matthew Skelly (Jr.), Wyatt Quiring (Sr., Fairmont), Seth Zeitchick (Sr., St. Paul), and Nathan Le (So., Savage) won with a season-best time of 1:31.20.
Quiring finished second in the 400-meter, clocking a time of 50.24. In the field, Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato) took second in the weight throw with a personal best distance of 54-10.25, which ranks first in the MIAC this season. Connor McCormick (Fy., Stillwater) finished the 60-hurdles in 9.31 for third place. And Carson Roehl (So., St. Bonifacius) took third in the mile at 4:29.94.
The Gustie women won six events, highlighted by Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) setting a school record in the 400-meter with a time of 58.18. Nelson’s time broke the previous record of 58.39 set by Laura Carlson in 1999. Kate Carlson (So.) won the 60-meter with a personal best 7.82, which ranks third in program history. Danielle Miller (Jr., Waconia) took first in the 60-hurdles with a personal best 9.30. In the field, Ally Rakow (Jr., Bloomington) won the high jump, clearing a bar set at 5-2.25 for another personal best. Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) won the shot put with a distance of 46-1.25. And Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) took first in the triple jump with a leap of 37-7.25.
Daneyah Hughes (Fy.) took second in the 200-meter with a time of 28.32. Isabel Fynboh (Fy.) finished second in the 600-meter at 1:48.33. In the 3000-meter, Julia Severson (Sr., St. Cloud) took second with a time of 11:06.44. And Megan Geraets (So., Mankato) leaped 16-6 in the long jump for second place.
“In the field events, Josh put together a good series of throws and a new personal best to keep him at the top of the conference standings,” Lund said. “Joe and Jenna moved to some higher heights and ended with new personal bests and competed really well. Ally was up and over on her first two bars and ended with a new best and took home the win. And Kelley had a nice day with a good series of throws and she is really starting to put things together at the right time of the season.”
The Gusties will compete at the MSU-Mankato Maverick Invitational next Friday for their final meet before the MIAC Indoor Championships Feb. 23-25.