RESULTS

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Jacob Parent and Joel Smith each set national leading marks in the 400m dash, and 400m hurdles, respectively, to lead the Royals at the Hamline Invite on Saturday, April 6th.

Jacob Parent ran a personal best time of 46.71 to win the 400m dash - the best time in Division III this year. Grant Nelson took 2nd place with a personal best time of 47.20 seconds, which stands as the 4th fastest in Division III this year. The Royals had two more athletes break the 50-second barrier for the first time in their career. Taaron Rudzitis ran 49.82 to take 4th place, and Caleb Ketterling ran 49.98 to take 5th. 

Joel Smith ran 51.30 seconds to win the 400m hurdles by over 4 seconds. That stands as the fastest time in Division III this year and Smith's 2nd best time in his career. Jayson Ekiyor took 2nd place with a time of 55.37 seconds and Blake Viesselman was 6th in 59.62.

The Royals swept the hurdle races as Josh Sampson won the 110H in 14.48. Josh Thomsen was 3rd with a time of 14.91. 

The 4x400m relay came down to 2 Bethel teams. Caleb Ketterling, Jacob Parent, Josh Sampson, and Victor Lelinga won the race in 3:15.04, edging out the team of Joel Smith, Grant Nelson, Taaron Rudzitis, and Sam Raitz who ran 3:16.00. Those times are the 3rd and 7th fastest times in Division III this year. 

Sam Gardeen gave the Royals a victory in the field events by winning the pole vault. Gardeen was the only jumper to clear 4.50m / 14'9" before barely missing his final attempt at 4.65m / 15'3". 

Grant Graber led the distance group by taking 2nd place in the 5000m run. Graber kicked to pass 2 runners in the final 100m on his way to a personal best time of 15:13.40.

Sam Raitz had a personal best time of 10.95 in the 100m dash to take 2nd place. 

Adam Hokanson finished in scoring position in 3 throwing events. Hokanson took 3rd in the hammer (49.41m / 162'1"), 4th in shot put (14.60m / 47'11"), and 7th in discus (40.88m / 134'1"). Phil Conant earned 3rd place in the discus with a toss of 42.65m / 139'11". 

Nick Bovitz took 5th in the long jump with a season best 6.42m / 21'0.75". Luc Swanson cleared a personal best height of 1.85m / 6'0.75" to take 8th place in the high jump. 

The Royals compete next at their home meet - The Bethel Invitational - on Saturday, April 13th at Royal Stadium.