RESULTS

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The 2022 track and field season opened for the Bethel Royals as they took home 10 event titles at the Vanessa Seljeskog Classic hosted by Macalaster. Here is how the meet breaks down:
 

FIELD EVENTS

Senior Lukas Walton and Captain Gabe Irons each won 2 field events on Saturday. Walton - a combined-event athlete - showed his versatility by winning the long jump (6.22m / 20'5") and the pole vault (4.10m / 13'5.25"). Both marks were lifetime bests. Irons dominated the throwing events by winning both the 35lb weight throw (17.45m / 57'3") and the shot put (14.36m / 47'1.5"). Irons is currently ranked #1 in the MIAC in both events. Bethel also picked up big points from freshmen in the jumping events. Sam Gardeen took 2nd place in the pole vault (3.95m / 12'11.75"), Benn McKean took 2nd in the triple jump (11.65m / 38'2.75"), and Alec Braun took 2nd in the high jump (1.85m / 6'0.75"). Sophomore Luke Wiltshire took 3rd in the high jump clearing 1.80m / 5'10.75".

SPRINTS

Bethel swept the top spots in the 60m hurdles led by freshman Jayson Ekiyor. Ekiyor edged out Josh Sampson at the line to win the race in 8.45 to Sampson's 8.49. David Myres took 3rd in 8.73. A pair of freshmen Royals also took the top 2 places in the 60m dash. Cort Doyle won the race in 7.28 while Cameron McConnell was 2nd in 7.33. Senior captain Joel Smith won the 200m in 22.87.

DISTANCE

The Royals took home two event wins in the distance events. Senior captain Ike Mendel ran with veteran tactics to outkick the field on his way to victory in the mile (4:40.10). Sophomore Nathan Smith won the 600m with a different strategy - leading wire-to-wire. Smith won the race in 1:26.99, while freshman Gabe Kuecker took 3rd in 1:29.12.

RELAYS

The Bethel quartet of Trokon Karngar, Joel Smith, Josh Sampson, and Lukas Walton blew away the field in the 4x400m relay. They won by 10 seconds while posting the top time in the MIAC, 3:28.22. That was Walton's 3rd victory on the day and Smith's 2nd win. The meet wrapped up with Bethel taking 2nd place in the 4x200m relay. The team of Cort Doyle, Albert Smith, Alec Braun, and Sean Bjork ran 1:34.23.

UP NEXT

The Royals will travel south to Northfield next weekend to compete at the St. Olaf Quad on Friday, January 28th. There will be no fans allowed in the facility, but a live stream and live results will be provided.