ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Bethel men's track and field team won the team title at their 2024 season opener at Macalester on Saturday. The Royals won 9 events and scored 223 points, as Gustavus took 2nd in 184 points and Macalester was 3rd in 102 points.
 
The Bethel hurdlers led the way with a sweep of the top 4 spots, which are also the top 4 times in the MIAC this year and all rank in the top 50 in Division III. Two time All-American Jayson Ekyior won the event in 8.09 seconds - the 6th fastest time in Division III. Josh Sampson was 2nd in 8.21 (14th in Division III), David Myres was 3rd in 8.36 (8.26 in prelims - 21st in Division III), and Josh Thomsen was 4th in 8.42 (50th in Division III).
 
The Royals also swept the top 7 spots in the 200m dash. Freshman Sam Raitz won his first ever collegiate race in a time of 23.10. Tony Haack was 2nd in 23.46 and Taaron Rudzitis was 3rd in 23.48.
 
Landen Liu won the 60m dash in a time of 6.81. That time stands as the 4th fastest in Division III, just 0.01 behind his teammate Jacob Parent's time from December.
 
Evan Larsen had a big day in the throws, as he won both the shot put and the weight throw with personal best tosses. His shot put of 14.97m / 49'1.5" is 43rd on the DIvision III honor roll, while his weight throw of 16.22m / 53'2.75" is 47th.
 
Bethel took victories in both the pole vault and the long jump. Captain Sam Gardeen won the vault with his clearance of a MIAC leading 4.25m / 13'11.25". Simon Swenson won the long jump with a leap of 6.29m / 20'7.75", while freshman Nick Bovitz was 2nd with a jump of 6.08m / 19'11.5".
 
Grant Nelson and Victor Lelinga put up the top 2 times in the MIAC as they battled together in the 600m run. Nelson held on to narrowly edge out a charging Lelinga 1:21.20 to 1:21.55.
 
At the end of the day, Nelson, Raitz, Thomsen, and Lelinga combined to win the 4x400m relay in a MIAC leading time of 3:24.02.
 
The Royals will get a chance to compete in the MIAC Championship venue next week, as they travel to St. Olaf College on Friday and Saturday, January 26 and 27.