MIAC PENTATHLON RECAP | MIAC DAY 1 RECAP | RESULTS

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Back-to-Back MIAC Champions! The Bethel Royals won their 2nd consecutive MIAC Indoor Track & Field title scoring 144 points, edging out Carleton by just 3.5 points. The Royals swept the team titles as the men won their first ever conference title.

"This was such a special weekend for both of our programs!" said Head Coach Andrew Rock. "The team score was so tight and both team championships came down to the 4x4 relays. Honestly, that made it so difficult and trying at times because every event mattered so much but it made it all the sweeter because it took everyone in every event they were in! God graciously blessed the teams with a beautiful moment for both of our programs to win at the same time!"

Bethel had a slim 1.5 point lead over Carleton with only the 4x400m relay remaining. In heat 2, the Knights set the time to beat at 4:06.00. Kelsie Sealock, Mikayla Turek, Annessa Ihde, and Sarah Stellmach won their heat, the race, and clinched the team title with a time of 3:58.83.

The Royals earned 4 other event titles over the weekend. Sarah Stellmach ran a program record of 7.70 to win the 60m dash on Saturday. Ellie Hernes provided a clutch performance in the triple jump as she moved from 3^rd to 1^st with her final jump and program record of 11.70m / 38'4.5". Jessica Lilland won the pole vault clearning 3.40m / 11'1.75". Glasha Hovey cleared a personal best 1.61m / 5'3.25" to win the high jump.

Bethel earned 14 points in the shot put as Emma Roethler was 2^nd (13.33m / 43'8.75"), and Nora Wilhelm was 3^rd (12.92m / 42'4.75"). The 4x200m relay team of Jireh Babalola, Sarah Stellmach, Morgan Dean, and Annie Paulson took 2^nd place with a time of 1:45.82. Annessa Ihde earned all-conference honors in the 600m run by finishing 3^rd with a time of 1:36.31, while Grace Robinson was 4^th in 1:38.37. Sarah Stellmach earned 2^nd place in the 200m dash with a personal best time of 25.61 and Kelsie Sealock added a 5^th place finish with her time of 26.27. Ellie Hernes added a 4^th place finish in the long jump (5.22m / 17'1.5") and AnnaGrace Nelson finished 6^th in the high jump with a clearance of 1.52m / 4'11.75".

"We are so grateful for that and the amazing memory that this has given us!" said Rock. "I just really also want to say that the amazing support group that we had this weekend from parents, alums, our team members, our president, our athletic director, friends, and family made all the difference! We are humbled and so grateful by all the support that you show us all!"

The Royals will continue their indoor season next week at the Wartburg Qualifier on Saturday, March 4^th in a final attempt to earn a national qualifying mark. The NCAA Indoor Championships will take place the following week on March 10-11 in Birmingham, Alabama.