RESULTS

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Bethel Royals won the team title with 99 team points and won 4 event titles at the St. Olaf Invitational on Saturday. The Royals defeated 11 teams as UW-Platteville took 2nd with 95 points and St. Olaf was 3rd with 83 points. 

Grant Nelson ran a personal best time of 21.98 in the 200m dash to edge out teammate Landen Liu who took 2nd in 22.07. Nelson's time ranks him 5th in Division III and Liu now ranks 9th. 

Taaron Rudzitis won the 600m run in a dominating performance as he led every step of the way. Rudzitis ran 1:23.48 to win by more than 1.5 seconds. 

Tony Haack, David Myres, Rudzitis, and Josh Thomsen came together at the end of the day to win the 4x400m relay in a time of 3:25.11, holding off solid team from UW-Platteville. 

In the 60 meter hurdles, David Myres and Josh Thomsen turned out big performances for the Royals. Myres had a lifetime best 8.19 seconds to take 2nd place, just 0.01 off the winner. Thomsen was close behind in a season best 8.22 seconds for 3rd place. Bethel now owns 4 of the top 20 times in Division III in the 60 meter hurdles - Jayson Ekiyor (6th), Myres (15th), Josh Sampson (16th), and Thomsen (18th).

Sam Gardeen led the Royals in the field events with another victory in the pole vault. Gardeen cleared a personal best and MIAC leading 4.55m / 14'11" and just missed at a school record height of 4.69m / 15'4.5". His clearance ranks him 31st in Division III. 

Cameron McConnell blazed down the track to a personal best time of 7.08 in the 60m dash, placing him 3rd overall.

Adam Hokanson took 2nd place in the shot put with a throw of 15.07m / 49'5.5" 3rd place in the weight throw, with a personal best toss of 16.33m / 53'7", which is the 2nd best throw in the MIAC this season. 

The Royals will compete next at UW-LaCrosse on Saturday, February 3rd.