MANKATO, Minn. — The Gustavus track & field team competed at the MSU-Mankato Maverick Open Wednesday, and compiled a handful of record performances.
Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) was the headliner, completely shattering the NCAA DIII 100-hurdles record in the preliminary round of the event with an all-conditions time of 13.32. Nelson clocked a 13.62 in the finals to win the event. As if one record wasn’t enough, Nelson took it one step further, setting a new facility and meet in the 400-hurdles with a time of 1:00.19, a time that now ranks first in the MIAC and second in NCAA DIII this season.
Sydney Hagen (So., Starbuck) and Molly Weberg (Sr., Duluth) got in on the record-setting fun as well, as both set a new facility and meet record in the 3000-steeplechase. Hagen finished in 12:28.28, while Weberg finished in 12:49.06.
In the women’s 100-meter, Kate Carlson (So., Inver Grove Heights) bested her own time with a finish of 12.20, good for the best DIII time at the meet and the third-fastest in the conference this season. Carlson added another impressive performance in the 200-meter, finishing in 24.89 for her best time of the season.
Meanwhile, in the 400, Megan Geraets (So., Mankato) posted the best conference time of the season with a mark of 56.93. Geraets’ time is just shy of the 2001 school record in the event, and currently ranks in the top 20 of NCAA performances this season. Geraets added the conference’s best long jump this season as well, with a distance of 18-00.50 to finish sixth overall in the event with the best DIII jump.
Lili Guy (So., Glendale Heights, Ill.) joined teammate Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) in the conference’s top triple jump performances, finishing with a jump of 36-01.25, good for fourth in the MIAC this season and the best DIII performance at the meet. For the women’s throwers, Annika Poe (Sr., Big Lake) and Kelley Brennan (So., Shakopee) made significant strides in their events. Brennan threw a 150-01 in the hammer throw to pace the Gusties, and added a toss of 40-07.50 in the shot put, a new personal best that now ranks her fourth in the MIAC. Poe threw the NCAA’s third-best shot put toss this season, setting a new school record at 48-04.50 to continue to pace the conference.
On the men’s side, Matthew Skelly (Jr., Le Sueur) posted the best DIII time of the day in the 100-meter, finishing with a 10.94 in the preliminary round and an 11.04 in the finals. Wyatt Quiring (Sr., Fairmont) was impressive in the 200, taking second in the event with a time of 22.20. Markus Rupnow (So., Mankato) finished seventh in the 800-meter with a time of 1:56.00 — another DIII best at the meet.
Tucker Wallin (Sr., Red Wing) took second in the 1500-meter, completing the race in 4:02.94, while teammate Carson Roehl (So., St. Bonifacius) finished third in 4:03.88. Trevor LaVigne (Sr., Farmington) added the Gusties’ best time in the 3000-steeplechase, posting the best DIII finish at 9:55.34. In the field for the men, Danny Bies (So., New Hope) continued to dominate the high jump, clearing a jump of 6-02.
The Gusties open MIAC Championship competition Thursday, competing at the MIAC Outdoor Multi Championships in Northfield, Minn.