RESULTS: U of M | Macalester | Drake Relays

The Royals put up record breaking and nationally ranked performances as the track and field team finished a busy week at the Drake Relays, the University of Minnesota, and Macalester.

DRAKE RELAYS

The 4x100m relay team of Jayson Ekiyor, Grant Nelson, Cameron McConnell, and Jacob Parent broke their own program record from just two weeks ago and placed 5th overall. Their time of 41.13 is the 14th fastest in Division III this year.

The 4x400m relay team of Joel Smith, Nelson, Josh Sampson, and Parent ran a terrific time of 3:12.40, placing 5th overall. That is the 5th fastest time in Division III this season. 

Jacob Parent was the top finisher for the Royals, as he was the runner-up in the 400m dash. In a race that included Division I, II, III, NAIA, and Junior College athletes, parent ran 47.72, just 0.12 behind the winner. Parent also had the split in the entire field in the 4x400m relay, officially running 46.02 seconds. 

Jayson Ekiyor placed 9th in the 110 meter hurdles, barley missing out on qualifying for the finals with his time of 14.52. Ekiyor also placed 20th in the 400 meter hurdles in 56.71.

Joel Smith ran a season best in the 400m hurdles of 52.33 to place 9th. That is the 2nd fastest time in Division III this season. 

Landen Liu ran his first outdoor race of the season in the 100m dash. Liu placed 20th with a personal best time of 10.76.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Grant Nelson was the top finisher for the Bethel men at the Running on Hope Invite on Wednesday night. Nelson had his 2nd best jump of the season at 6.66, / 21'10.25" in the long jump, placing 4th. Cameron McConnell ran a massive personal best of 10.85 in the 100m dash, breaking the 11-second barrier for the first time in his career. McConnell placed 12th overall. 

MACALESTER

The Royals won the team title at Macalester, winning with 128 team points, ahead of Macalester's 116. 

In the sprint events, Godsword Simon ran a collegiate best 11.05 in the 100m dash to take 2nd place. Collin Asplin (11.11) took 4th, and Tony Haack (11.28) was 5th. Haack came back in the 200m to take 3rd place in 22.95, breaking the 23-second barrier for the first time in his career.

David Myres and Pryce Ferrin had top 3 finishes in the 110 meter hurdles as they both ran season bests. Myres was 2nd in 15.26 and Ferrin was 3rd in 15.69. Caleb Meeker took 3rd place in the 400m hurdles with a personal best 58.43. Trokon Karngar was 4th in 58.47.

The Royals had a strong showing in the 800m, placing 3 men in the top 5. Gabe Kuecker took 2nd place in 1:58.80, Clark Nelson was 3rd in 1:58.84, and Tad Stewart was 5th in 1:59.05. All 3 Royals had personal best times. 

Bethel's 4x400m relay team took home 1st place in the final race of the day. Karngar, Abe Schlegel, Albert Smith, and Myres won in 3:28.45.

Abe Schlegel added a runner-up finish for the Royals in the pole vault. Schlegel cleared 4.10m / 13'5.25", a personal best by 9 inches. 

Simon Swenson took 4th in the triple jump with a lifetime best leap of 13.13m / 43'1". 

In the throws, Evan Larsen led the way for Bethel taking 2nd in the hammer (51.03m / 167'5") and 3rd in the discus (45.68m / 149'10"). Adam Hokanson took 4th in the shot put with his toss of 13.76m / 45'1.75".

UP NEXT

The Royals continue their busy schedule next week with the Tommie Twilight on Wednesday, Hamline's Meet of the UnSaintly on Friday, and the MIAC Decathlon on Thursday and Friday at Carleton College.