RESULTS | Day 1 Recap | MIAC Heptathlon Recap

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Bethel Royals placed 4th as a team with 118 points, as they played host to the MIAC Outdoor Championships this weekend. "It was so special to be able to host the conference championships here at Bethel," said Head Coach Andrew Rock. "We are so grateful to all the support from parents, alums, friends, family, and the whole university. Our team fed off the energy and had a great meet."

The Royals won 3 events and set 2 program records on Championship Saturday. Glasha Hovey won the high jump, just as she did indoors. Hovey was the only competitor to clear 1.59m / 5'2.5".

Sarah Stellmach earned 10 points for the Royals as she won the 200m dash in a time of 24.60. That is the 2nd fastest time in program history and currently ranks 23rd nationally. 

Freshman Nora Wilhelm provided the drama in a terrific discus competition. Wilhelm was in 2nd place going into her 6th and final throw. She stepped up and threw a personal best 41.37m / 135'8" to capture the event title. That is the 3rd best throw in program history. 

Jireh Babalola had a phenomenal championship meet. Babalola set the program record in the 100m dash, as she raced to 2nd place in a time of 11.93. Stellmach was right with her as she placed 3rd in 11.94. Babalola and Stellmach are now ranked 15th and 17th in Division III, respectively. Babalola also ran a personal best in the 200m, taking 3rd in a time of 25.19

Josie Harms had a huge performance in the 3000m steeplechase. Harms had a personal best by 20 seconds to break the 21 year old program record in the steeple. Her time of 11:16.80 put her on the podium as she placed 3rd overall. 

Kelsie Sealock ran nose-to-nose with Gustavus' Birgen Nelson in the 100m hurdles. Sealock and Nelson were locked up through the 8th hurdle before Nelson edged out Sealock for the title. Sealock took 2nd in 13.61, just off her personal best from the prelims of 13.54.

Annessa Ihde showed a ton of courage in the 800m as she went out hard to try to break a very talented field of runners. Ihde placed 3rd overall in a time of 2:15.58.

Bethel scored 2 athletes in the 400m on Saturday. Hailey Gregg took 6th in 59.35, while Makenna Brown set a personal best of 59.45 to take 7th. 

Brown, Morgan Dean, Abbie Swenson, and Gregg came together to take 3rd in the 4x400m relay with their time of 3:58.47. 

The Royals picked up one point each from Jessie Smith and Molly Lukenbill. Smith scored at the conference meet for the first time in her career as she was 8th in the 400m hurdles in a personal best time of 1:07.87. Lukenbill took 8th in the hammer throw with her toss of 44.44m / 145'9".

"It was an amazing weekend for our athletes to be able to have this championship here on campus," said Rock. "We had a very memorable season with this team."

A handful of Royals will continue competing for a spot in the NCAA Division III national championships. Next week, Bethel will compete at UW-LaCrosse on Thursday, May 18th.