CSB+SJU track teams overcome obstacles to start outdoor season strong

Despite cancellations and inclement weather, the CSB and SJU track and field teams have had a strong start to their outdoor seasons.

Following the cancellation of a scheduled meet at Hamline, the teams took an opportunity to compete at the Wartburg Outdoor Select meet in Iowa last weekend. The Johnnies recorded three wins and 12 top-10 finishes, while the Bennies recorded six top-10 finishes and three top-10 CSB all-time marks. SJU’s Kevin Arthur claimed two of the wins for the Johnnies, winning both the 100 and 200-meter dashes. His 100-meter time ranks 13th and his 200-meter time ranks 14th in NCAA DIII so far this season.

“My race went really well. It’s a great start to the season. I ran faster than I did last year in my opener. I’m looking forward to big things in the future,” Arthur said.

The other win from the Johnnies came from first-year pole vaulter Kole Guth, with a height of 4.11 meters.

“I think it was an ok meet. Could have been better, could have been worse. The team did pretty well overall based on the circumstances of a long bus ride and the wind,” Guth said.

From the Bennies, three competitors recorded CSB top-10 all-time marks. Junior Fiona Smith placed second in the 5k running 16:26.19, with a time that places her at second in the top 10 all-time, just behind her time from the outdoor season last year.

“I’m happy with [my time]; it’s a good way to start the season. It’s faster than I started last season,” Smith said.

Smith also agreed that despite the windy conditions, she and many other Bennies are happy with the times they ran to start the outdoor season. Also on the track, first-year Lauren Berg recorded a top-10 all-time performance in the 100-meter hurdles. Her time currently ranks her at ninth overall in the top-10 performances. Berg’s performance in the 400-meter hurdles is just shy of the top 10. In the field events, sophomore Justus Floren excelled in the high jump, with a lifetime personal record of 1.60 meters (5 feet 3 inches), placing fourth at the Wartburg Select. Her jump places her tied for sixth-best all-time in CSB outdoor history.

“It was super exciting. Overall, I think it was a really good start to the season. I’m excited to see where I will be in the outdoor season,” Floren said.

In spite of the bleak weather and snow, Johnnie and Bennie track and field look to continue their strong start to the outdoor season.

“The next couple weeks are looking warm, and I’ve been thankful we’ve been able to get in a meet and that training has been going really well,” junior distance runner Bridget Tetmeyer said.

Floren is also looking forward to continuing training and is excited to see what the teams are going to accomplish in the outdoor season. Due to the ongoing inclement weather, the CSB+SJU Invite scheduled for Thursday, April 7, has been canceled. The CSB and SJU track teams are set to make their second appearances at the UST Tomcat Individual on Friday, April 8 instead. The Bennies and Johnnies next home meet is scheduled for April 14-16.