RESULTS

ST. PAUL, MINN.—The Bethel University women's track & field team opened 2026 at the Macalester Vanessa Seljeskog Classic on Saturday. The Royals took fourth place out of 15 teams with 72 points. Minnesota-Duluth claimed the team title with 100 points.

The Royals accumulated nine career bests on the day.

Alethia Olson-Skog posted a meet-record 7.75 in the 60 meter run prelims, which put her in first place. She carried that momentum into the finals with a first-place time of 7.78. Ella Paulson followed with a career-best 8.02 in the 60 meter run prelims, good enough for fourth place. Paulson secured eighth place in the finals with an 8.21.

The first-place trend continued in the 60 meter hurdles thanks to Michaela Zenz's 9.35 in the prelims, and 9.20 in the finals. Brianna Hexum and Ellie Hernes each crossed the finish line at 9.62 in the prelims to lock sixth and seventh place. Hernes along with Hannah Bingham, who took eighth in the prelims with a 9.67, each finished tied for fifth place in the finals with a 9.57. The fifth-place trend continued her Hernes in the long jump, where she notched a 5.36m.

Shalom Sulungaine kept the titles rolling with a 1:36.04 in the 600 meter run, while Nora Larsen claimed the shot put crown with a 12.80m. Second place was in the cards for Anna Speratos, who registered a toss of 16.18m in the weight throw.

Morgan Dean, Brianna Hexum, Ashley Slaybaugh, and Sulungaine clocked in a meet-record 4:01.48 in the 4x400 meter relay, which put them in second place.

The Royals will compete at the Saint Benedict/Saint John's Invite on Friday, January 30.