RESULTS

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Bethel Royals opened up the new decade of track and field with a bang! The Royals won four events and took 3rd with 146.5 team points at the St. Olaf Quad. The highlight of the evening undoubtedly came from freshman Kelsie Sealock. Sealock, a two-sport athlete at Bethel (volleyball) demolished the school record in the 60m hurdles in her first collegiate meet. She ran 9.02 to win the event - a time that places her at the top of the MIAC honor roll as well as 4th in all of Division III. "Kelsie's race was incredible," said Head Coach Andrew Rock. "We knew she would run well, but that exceeded our expectations as a coaching staff." 

Sealock wasn't the only freshman to win an event on Friday evening. Britta Nordberg finished strong in the 400m to win the event in 1:01.29. That time ranks 47th in Division III. Teammate and fellow-freshman Mikayla Turek took 2nd place with a time of 1:01.42, after leading most of the race. Senior Delia Labatt earned a victory in the 200m with her time of 26.26 (14th in Division III). Hannah Sankey placed third in that race (27.03) and Jireh Babalola took 4th (27.68). Labatt came together with teammates Lauren Conradi, Turek, and Corin McKinstrey to win the 4x400m relay. Their time of 4:03.91 is the top time in the MIAC and ranks 7th in Division III.

McKinstrey and Babalola also raced well earlier in the day. McKinstrey took 3rd place in the 60m hurdles with a personal best time of 9.37. That is the 4th best time in program history and the 37th best time in Division III. Babalola took 2nd place in the 60m with her time of 8.18. Lauren Richards came away with third place in the 60m by running 8.38. Freshman Emily Brockberg ran 1:44.27 in the 600m for 3rd place, while Allison Duchscherer took 3rd in the 1000m (3:38.05). 

The field events were well represented by Bethel. Jessica Lilland tied her lifetime best in the pole vault by clearing 3.20m (10'6") and earning 2nd place in her first collegiate track meet. Teammate Sadie Koelz took 4th place by jumping 3.05m (10'0"). Kayli Knighton-Johnson took 3rd place in the triple jump with her first leap of 10.06m (32'10.25"). Multi-eventers Sally Paul and Syri Williams tied for 4th place in the high jump. Both athletes cleared 1.35m (4'5").

"I thought this was a great start to our competitive season," said Head Coach Andrew Rock. "We're excited to use the momentum from this meet into our home meet next weekend." The Royals will host their annual Gene Gladder Classic on Saturday, February 1st.