VERMILLION, S.D. – The Northwestern College men’s track and field team competed at the South Dakota Challenge over three days, hosted by the University of South Dakota. The Raiders posted competitive times and placements against competition spanning NCAA Division I, II, III and the NAIA.
The Raiders took home two 1st place finishes over the three days of competition. Lorenzo Jones (Jr., Orlando, Fla./Edgewater) led the triple jump with a mark of 14.94m. Jones’ mark sets a new personal record and he remains undefeated in the triple jump this outdoor season. At the event alone, the junior topped four National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes. Due to the wind measurements, the mark does not qualify as an automatic mark for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Championships.
The Raiders 4x100m relay team – Vander Velde, Post, Jahn, Davies – took home first with a time of 41.98s.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bryce Paulsen finished in a three-way tie for second in the 400m hurdles with a mark of 56.07.
The 5000m run was filled with Raiders in the top-10 with Ian Wiersma leading the NAIA in the event with a third-place finish with a time of 15:33.62.
Levi Cross finished sixth (15:50.63), Dawson Jacobsma took ninth (16:25.86), and Alex Nonhof finished 10th (16:26.56).
Joseph Kunert took tenth in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:10.17.
Cody Post ran a time of 21.94 in the 200m dash, placing tied for 15th.
Two Raiders placed top-15 in the Javelin Throw, led by a fourth-place finish from Ben Thelander (48.85m) – the highest placing NAIA athlete.
Bryce Paulsen finished 11th in the Javelin with a throw of 42.74m.
In the 4x100m relay, the Raiders saw two top 5 finishes. The Raiders ‘A’ group- Vander Velde, Post, Jahn, and Davies- took home first with a time of 41.98s, while the ‘B’ group – Palmer, Yol, Pedersen, Pfaffle – finished in 5th with a time of 44.23s.
The Raiders took home two top-10 finishes in the triple jump. Lorenzo Jones earned a 1st place finish with a mark of 14.94m while Nikko Helderop finished 8th with a time of 13.17m.
Up Next: Northwestern will head to Des Moines, Iowa to participate in the 2022 Drake Relays hosted by Drake University April 28-30. The Raiders will also send athletes to compete at the Viking Classic hosted by Grand View University on Friday, April 29.
