RESULTS

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - The men's 4x400m relay ran a program record 3:09.97, and Jacob Parent broke the record in the 200m in 21.35 at the Midwest Twilight Qualifier hosted by Augustana College on Thursday evening.

In a historic race that produced the top 3 times in the nation this year, the quartet of Joel Smith (48.11), Grant Nelson (47.79), Josh Sampson (48.16), and Parent (45.91) They became just the 13th team in Division III history to run under 3:10.00. They broke the previous record of 3:10.72 from the All-American team of Karl Olsen, Isaac Erickson, Evan Hatton, and Carl Klamm in 2018. 

Both Parent and Sampson raced earlier in the day as well. Parent broke the aforementioned 200m dash record, set by teammate Cameron McConnell, just last week. Sampson won his heat of the 110m hurdles, coming back in the final meters to win in 14.54. 

Landen Liu and McConnell both raced in the 100m dash, as both made the finals in an incredibly competitive field. Liu took 2nd in 10.72 and McConnell was 6th in 10.91. Evan Larsen ended his season with a personal best toss in the discus, throwing 47.08m / 154'5" - the 5th best mark in program history. 

The Royals will now compete in the NCAA Division III National Championships hosted by St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. Next week - May 25-27 - the top 22 individuals and top 16 relays will be invited to compete for a national title. Bethel has several athletes ranked high enough to qualify as the official entry list comes out Friday at 7:00 pm: 

• Jacob Parent - 400m
• Joel Smith - 400m Hurdles
• Jayson Ekiyor - 110m Hurdles & 400m Hurdles
• Josh Sampson - 110m Hurdles
• Smith, Grant Nelson, Sampson, Parent - 4x400m Relay