ST. PAUL, Minn – The Gustavus women’s track & field team took third place at the MIAC Indoor Championships on Sunday, while the men finished fifth. The Gustie women totaled 114 points and the men scored 71 points.
During Sunday’s final session, the Gustie women claimed three event championships. Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) won the 200-meter with a time of 25.61 and teamed with Kate Carlson (So.), Megan Geraets (So., Mankato), and Ally Rakow (Jr., Bloomington) to win the 4×200 relay with a school record time of 1:45.39. The previous record of 1:45.47 stood since 1998, set by Megan Mullins, Sara Ridge, Erica Stone, and Laura Carlson. Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) claimed the team’s third title of the day by winning the shot put with a distance of 46-0.75.
All-Conference honors were claimed by Geraets in the 200-meter, taking third place in 26.05 and Erin Beer (Sr., Roseville) finishing third in the high jump, clearing 4-11.75.
“For our women’s team, this was a hard fought battle until the very end,” Head Coach Aaron Lund said. “Carleton’s middle distance and distance talent and depth pushed them ahead today. And Bethel established some momentum early in the high jump and shot put and did enough to hang on. I give a lot of credit to all of the schools and athletes today. It was a great championship environment with outstanding performances. I am very proud of the effort and energy of our team. We have the ability to win now but we know we become an even more dangerous team outdoors. We will finish this season strong at the national championships and start preparing for a great outdoor season.”
On the men’s side, Tucker Wallin (Sr., Red Wing) claimed the title in the 1000-meter with a time of 2:31.32. The 4×400 relay team of Seth Zeitchick (Sr., St. Paul), Wyatt Quiring (Sr., Fairmont), Agro Gushwa (Jr., Geneva), and Tyler Smith (So., Norwood Young America) took third in 3:27.37. Smith also earned All-Conference honors in the 600-meter, taking third place in 1:23.36.
The 4×200 relay team of Matthew Skelly (Jr.), Quiring, Zeitchick, and Peter Oviguian (Sr., Eden Prairie) finished fourth in 1:30.94.
“For our men’s team, the final score and place don’t tell the full story,” Lund said. “We tied for sixth a year ago with St. Scholastica with 43 points. This year we scored 71 points, beat a Concordia team that finished second last year, and established some clear separation between those other schools. We have a lot to be proud of and we have a lot to believe in heading into the outdoor season. Josh throwing over 17 meters on his last throw punctuated the win and put a great end to his indoor season. Tucker, Tyler, Wyatt, Skelly, and Danny stood out in difficult fields this weekend and came through for the team in a big way
A select few Gusties will compete at the Wartburg Qualifier on Saturday with hopes of gaining an invitation to the NCAA Indoor Championships, held March 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala.