ST. PAUL, Minn. - Gustavus junior Nick Brauer traveled to the Meet of the UnSaintly for a stacked 1500-meter field on Friday night and finished seventh, which was second overall across Division III competitors with a 3:53.31. 

The field held six Division I runners, one Division II runner, a handful of non-collegiate runners, and a plethora of Division III runners to create an atmosphere that was enticing enough for head coach Aaron Lund to elect to send junior Nick Brauer (Mankato, Minn.) up to St. Paul. 

Brauer stayed with the top group through 300 meters, clocking a 45.76 split to start off. Brauer and fellow MIAC competitor Cole Stencel of John's both jockeyed with the top group containing four runners from the University of Minnesota, sticking with each other through the next lap as well, both running 400-meter splits in just over 1:01. Brauer's 1:01.97 slowed down just .02 on the third lap around, before a 1:03.82 final kick dropped him behind the winners by 10 seconds and behind common competitor Stencel by three and a half seconds with a 3:53.31. The difference between the two is 38 spots apart in the national rankings, with Brauer running the new Division III No. 53 time. The Mankato native was just three seconds behind his personal record of 3:50.53, which also stands as the school record. 

The track & field team will go back to work tomorrow, traveling to the Ole Open, hosted by St. Olaf.