RESULTS

ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Royals showed why they are the 4th ranked team in the nation as they put up some of the best times in Division III history at their home meet, the Bethel Invitational on Saturday, April 13.

Landen Liu won the 100m dash in 10.34 seconds - the fastest time in Division III this year. Liu won by a quarter second and is now the 13th fastest man in Division III history and is the school record holder. Returning from injury, Cameron McConnell took 7th place with his time of 10.93 seconds. 

Jacob Parent and Grant Nelson went 1-2 in the 200m dash as Parent became the first Bethel athlete to dip under the 21-second barrier. Parent made up the stagger on the field quickly, while Nelson came on strong in the final 75 meters. Parent won in 20.90 seconds, with Nelson 2nd in 21.09. Those times are number 3 and 6 , respectively, in Division III this year. Sam Raitz was 6th in 22.16, Taaron Rudzitis was 8th in 22.37 as the Royals had 8 athletes go under 23-seconds in the 200m dash.

The 4x400m relay team of Joel Smith, Grant Nelson, Josh Sampson, and Jacob Parent ran a national leading and program record time of 3:09.27. That time is the 8th fastest 4x4 in Division III history and the Royals now lead the nation by more than 3 seconds. Bethel's 4x4 "B" team ran an impressive 3:16.15 - which would be the 14th fastest in Division III this year - for 2nd place.

Josh Thomsen had a stellar day on the track and in the field. Thomsen won the 400m hurdle race in a season best 53.89 seconds, which ranks 16th in Division III. Thomsen also took 2nd place in his first ever javelin competition, throwing 48.23m / 158'3", and was on the 2nd place 4x400m relay team.

Bethel had several impressive performances in the 110m hurdles, going 2-3-4 in the finals. Jayson Ekiyor ran a season best time of 14.24 for 2nd place behind the University of Minnesota's Michael Buchanan. Ekiyor's time puts him 4th in Division III this year. Josh Sampson was 3rd in 14.46, and David Myres ran a huge personal best of 14.53 to take 4th, which ranks him 14th in Division III. 

Sam Gardeen continued his impressive stretch of pole vaulting by clearing a personal best height of 4.68m / 15'4.25". Gardeen was the top collegiate finisher and took 2nd place overall. 

Gardeen is now 26th on the Division III honor roll. 

Freshman middle distance runner Victor Lelinga led the 800m run until the final 50 meters, finishing in 2nd place with a personal best time of 1:53.92. Lelinga now ranks 44th in Division III.

In his first competition in 8 weeks, Evan Larsen made his presence known in the throws. Larsen took 3rd in the discus (49.59m / 162'8") and shot put (15.05m / 49'4.5"), and 4th place in hammer (49.25m / 161'7"). Larsen is now ranked 14th in Division III in the discus. 

Adam Hokanson took 3rd place in the hammer with a toss of 51.07m / 167'7" and 8th in shot put with 14.33m / 47'0.25". Phil Conant was 8th in the discus, throwing 44.52m / 146'1". 

Nick Bovitz was in scoring position in both of the horizontal jumps. Bovitz finished 4th in the triple jump with 12.88m / 42'3.25", and  5th in the long with with 6.27m / 20'7".

Grant Graber had a 6-second personal best in the 1500m run to take 4th place in 4:04.31.

Reese Thompson took 6th place in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:11.87, while Jonah Kalsnes was 7th in 10:12.67. 

The Royals will compete next at St. John's on Friday and Saturday, April 19-20.