MANKATO, Minn. and PELLA, Iowa - The Gusties sent a smaller, sprint and field event focused group to the Stomper Open at Minnesota State University, led by a nationally-ranked finish by first-year
Ava Loftness (Prior Lake, Minn.)while the multi-event athletes traveled to Pella, Iowa for the Central Spring Multi. Battling cold and windy conditions once again, the day still delivered, highlighted by multiple personal bests and national level marks.
In Mankato,
Ava Loftness stole the show, placing fifth in the 100m with a time of 13.00 while also hitting a huge personal best of 11.87m in the triple jump, a mark that moves her up to No. 2 in Division III and No. 2 in the school record books.
On the men's side,
Jade Anstine turned in a strong day on the track, finishing second in the 100m in 10.58, putting him atop the MIAC standings. He followed that with a 21.59 in the 200m, good for fifth in the meet and second in the conference.
In the field,
Liam Frommelt led the way for the Gusties men, placing fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 13.32m.
In Pella, three women competed in Day 1 of the heptathlon, sophomore
Emily Podulke (Hastings, Minn.) and senior classmates
Maddox Lee (Hugo, Minn.) and
Grace Banse (Mankato, Minn.). After the first four events, Podulke leads the team with a score of 2379 for fifth place and was the top finisher for the Gusties in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, and 200-meter. Banse was the top finisher for Gustavus in the shotput, heaving a 10.69m mark.
On the men's side, the transition to outdoor evolves the events into a decathlon. Five events took place for the three Gusties competing, senior
Connor McCormick (Stillwater, Minn.), sophomore
Alex Palmer (Albert Lea, Minn.) and first-year
Amos Anderson (Mankato, Minn.). Palmer was the top scorer in the 100-meter, Anderson in the long jump, and McCormick took the last three events of the day, the shotput, high jump, and 400-meter.
The multi-event group will continue tomorrow in Pella to finish up the Central Spring Multi while the rest of the team is back in action at the Gene Glader Invitational, hosted by Bethel University on Saturday.
