ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Gustavus track & field team concluded their 2022-23 season on the final day of the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships with a series of impressive performances. Birgen Nelson (Sr., Edina) closed out her Gustavus track & field career as the most decorated track athlete in program history, winning the 100-hurdles and taking second in the 400-hurdles.
Madi Kes (Jr., Jordan) started competition for the Gusties on the final day in the triple jump. Kes jumped 37-05.75 (11.42m) in her second attempt before improving her final mark to 37-10.50 (11.54m) to finish 20th overall in her second national meet appearance.
“I wish it would’ve gone a bit better, but I’m really happy to be here at the national meet and have the chance to compete again,” said Kes following her performance. “It was another great experience, and just being at this meet and watching everyone perform is a lot of fun. Everyone is an incredible athlete and there were so many amazing performances, so it was really special to be able to be a part of.”
Josh Beiswanger (Sr., Mankato), in his national meet debut, finished 16th overall. Beiswanger threw 177-10 (54.22m) on his second attempt and bettered his performance with a toss of 181-06 (55.32m), finishing ninth in his flight.
“I came out higher than I was ranked, so I can’t really complain too much about my first nationals experience,” said Beiswanger. “It was nice to have this as closure to my career, it was a great thing to add on top of everything else over the years.”
Saturday marked graduation for the Gustie class of 2023, but Birgen Nelson had some other business to attend to. While Nelson missed the ceremony in Saint Peter, she did not miss a step in her race, defending her national title in the 100-hurdles with a time of 13.37. And just over an hour later, Nelson added one more All-American performance to her résumé in the 400-hurdles, posting a new school record and personal best 59.17 to take second overall. Nelson wraps up her Gustavus career as the most decorated Gustie track athlete in program history. She joins Lisa Brown as the only Gusties to win three individual national championships in their career, and now shares the lead in All-America honors with Kaelene Lundstrum, each with eight.
“I think everyone was gunning for the title in the 100-hurdles, it was so close until those final few hurdles,” said Nelson following her national championship. “I was really proud of my race, and it was a bummer it wasn’t wind legal, but I’m going to chase for some wind legal times in the future.
“It’s a great way to end my career, and it’s very fitting that I would miss graduation for a track meet.”
The Gustie women finished with 20 points for 10th overall of 71 teams that scored.
Gustavus Results at the NCAA Outdoor Championships:
Thursday, May 25 | RECAP
400-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 59.41 (third)
200-meter prelims (Geraets) — 25.07 (18th)
Friday, May 26 | RECAP
Shot put (Poe) — 46-08.00 (seventh)
100-hurdles prelims (Nelson) — 13.47 (first)
Saturday, May 27
Triple jump (Kes) — 37-10.50 (20th)
Hammer throw (Beiswanger) — 181-06 (16th)
100-hurdles (Nelson) — 13.37 (first)
400-hurdles (Nelson) — 59.17 (second)