RESULTS
BOSTON, Mass. - The Bethel Royals may need some extra luggage on the way home from their trip to Boston. The Royals earned nine All-American awards at the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships on Saturday. "I'm so happy for this group," says Head Coach Andrew Rock. "We had a goal of getting everyone here an All-American trophy."
Bethel was able to do exactly that as Carl Klamm took 5th in the 400m, the women's 4x400m relay team of Hannah Sankey, Delia Labatt, Corin McKinstrey, and AddieKay Johnson took 3rd, and the men's 4x400m relay team of Shawn Monroe, Isaac Erickson, Nolan Metz, and Klamm took 5th place.
Klamm was able to earn his eighth career All-American award in his first race of the day, the 400m. "Carl wanted to go out a little faster than in prelims, but still leave enough to close hard," says Rock. Klamm executed his strategy and earned an indoor personal best of 48.27, earning him 5th place. That time is the second best time in program history.
In the women's 4x400m relay, the Royals knew they were in a fast heat and knew they needed to get out quickly. "I don't know if our women could have possibly run any better, they ran so incredibly well," says Rock. Hannah Sankey led off in 57.89 and handed off in second place. Delia Labatt closed the gap by running a 56.59 leg and handed off in a dead heat with Loras and Nebraska Wesleyan. Corin McKinstrey ran a personal best split of 58.46 to keep they Royals in the thick of the race, and AddieKay Johnson anchored the women in 57.34. Their time of 3:50.28 took 3rd place and is a school record. This was Labatt's fourth All-American award, Sankey and Johnson's third, and McKinstrey's first.
The final event of the meet was the men's 4x400m relay. Shawn Monroe had an excellent lead of leg of 49.92 and handed off to teammate Isaac Erickson in first place in their heat. Erickson ran a season best split of 48.85 and brought the baton around the track in second place. Nolan Metz ran the third leg and split 50.07 to hand off to Carl Klamm. Klamm ran a blazing fast split of 47.79 to keep the Royals in second place in their heat. Their time of 3:16.61 placed them 5th overall and is the second best time in program history. This was Klamm's ninth All-American award in his career, Erickson's fifth, Monroe's second, and Metz's first.
"We have a great bunch of student-athletes we get to work with and be around each day," says Rock. "They work their tails off and they care so much about each other. I'm very proud of our athletes." The Royals now begin to look forward to their outdoor season. The team will travel to San Diego to train and compete at Point Loma University on Saturday, March 23rd.
