RESULTS
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -
Grant Nelson and
Cameron McConnell picked up victories on their home track as the Royals hosted over 20 teams for the Bethel Invitational on Saturday, April 12th.
Nelson raced away from the 400m field - which included 6 All-Americans from the Indoor Championships in March - over the final 120m. Nelson won the race in a personal best 46.70, the 2nd fastest time in Division III this year.
Jacob Parent took 3rd place in a season best 47.16, which stands as the 6th best in Division III.
Cameron McConnell tore out of the blocks and never looked back, winning the 200m dash in a personal best time of 21.26. That time is the 6th fastest in Division III this year, and is currently the best time in the MIAC.
Sam Raitz ran a personal best time of 21.64 to take 4th, and
Taaron Rudzitis took 8th in a personal best 22.22.
Jayson Ekiyor took 2nd place in the 110H, running 14.13, just 0.01 seconds behind his personal best. Ekiyor's time ranks him 4th in Division III.
Josh Thomsen took 4th in 14.75, and
David Myres was 7th in 15.27.
The 4x400m rivalry between Bethel and UW-LaCrosse provided fireworks at the end of the day. The Eagles edged out the Royals, as the two teams provided the top-2 time in Division III this year with UW-Lacrosse running 3:08.26, and Bethel's team of
Jacob Parent,
Josh Thomsen,
Victor Lelinga, and
Grant Nelson taking 2nd in 3:08.42. Those times stand as the 10th and 11th best times in Division III history. Bethel's "B" team took 4th in 3:17.78 - the 30th best time in Division III this year.
Cameron McConnell took 4th place in the 100m dash, running 10.77 seconds.
Landen Liu pulled up with an injury 20m from the finish line, yet still took 5th in 10.80.
In the distance events,
David Price took 3rd in the 10k with a personal best time of 33:30.39. Freshman
Thomas Avra took 4th place in his 10k debut with a time of 33:50.56.
Grant Graber took 5th place in the 1500m run, finishing in 4:07.08.
The Royals' throwers were led by AJ Hokanson's 2nd place finish in the hammer throw. Hokanson tossed a MIAC-leading 52.77m / 173'1". Hokanson also took 6th in the shot put, throwing 14.80m / 48'6.75".
Evan Larsen took 3rd place finish in the shot put. Larsen threw a lifetime best 15.70m / 51'6.25", which ranks him 25th in Division III. Larsen also took 3rd in the discus with 44.98m / 147'7", and 4th in the hammer with a throw of 49.76m / 163'3".
The Royals will take Easter Weekend off from competition, then head to the Drake Relays and Macalester April 24-26.
