Tigers host first meet of 2021 season

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field teams hosted the DWU Invitational with the women competing on Friday, while the men saw action today at the DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Complex in Mitchell.

 Freshman Morgan Oedekoven (Pierre, S.D.) made her mark in her first home collegiate meet as she took second in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 21:25.44 minutes. Her time moved her to seventh in the program top-10 list.

 Darby Deffenaugh (Kimball, S.D.) also moved into seventh in the women's weight throw as she took second after a toss of 43-5 feet (13.23m). Finishing just ahead of her in the weight throw was fellow Tiger Morgan Taft (Norris, S.D.) who notched took first place after a mark of 49-2.25 feet (14.99m).

 Lydia Gerber (Canton, S.D.) came away with the long jump first-place finish as she recorded a leap of 17-6.25 feet (5.34m). Three Tigers did not finish far behind as Avany Long (Oacoma, S.D.) Lia Guigui (Rapid City, S.D.) and Ashtyn Evans (Gillette, Wyo.) took third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Long notched a leap of 16-9.75 feet (5.12m), Guigui notched a leap of 16-7 feet (5.05m) and Evans tallied a mark of 15-6.75 feet (4.74m).

 Gerber also had an impressive finish in the 60-meter dash as she took second with a time of 8.37 seconds. In the 800-meter run, freshman Tessa Kilber (Ipswich, S.D.) finished in 2:39.78 minutes, good for second place.

 Senior Macey Bohl (Garretson, S.D.) recorded a second-place finish in the mile, with a time of 6:18.29 minutes. A pair of Tigers took top-three placements in the shot put, as Lila Gronseth (Sargeant, Minn.) finished in second and Katlyn Briggs (Plankinton, S.D.) took third. Gronseth recorded a toss of 36-2 feet (11.02m), while Briggs notched a throw of 34-10.25 feet (10.62m).

 In the throwing ring on the men's side, junior Tiger thrower Chris Zanotto (Blair, Neb.) kicked off the day with a first-place finish and new personal best in the weight throw. Zanotto tallied a mark of 47-10.75 feet (14.60m) on his third toss of the day as he swept the field of nine competitors.

 Fellow DWU throwers Caden Milmine (Buffalo, Wyo.) and Ryan Kienzle (Gillette, Wyo.) claimed the top two spots in the shot put. Milmine secured the men's title with a throw of 49-10 feet (15.19m) while Kienzle notched a mark of 43-8.75 feet (13.33m) on his first throw of the day as he finished second.

 On the straightaway, Cale Strong (Norfolk, Neb.) finished sixth in the triple jump with a jump of 39-11.25 feet (12.17m). Freshman Austin Moen (Webster, S.D.) finished off the field events for Dakota Wesleyan as he captured a fourth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 20-1.75 feet (6.14m).

 Sophomore Wyatt Baldauf (Seneca, Ill.) commenced the running events for the Tigers with a personal best of 17:13.18 minutes in the 5,000 meters. In the mile race, Hunter Shanks (Bennington, Neb.) and Justin Sorensen (Vermillion, S.D.) crossed the line back-to-back with times of 4:48.72 minutes and 4:51.87 minutes.

 Out of the starting blocks, DWU freshman Benjamin Heyd (LaMoure, N.D.) finished third in the 60-meter dash as he crossed the line in 7.2 seconds. Fellow sprints specialist Austin Hughes (Box Elder, S.D.), who also qualified for the 60-meter dash final, tallied a sixth-place performance with a mark of 7.25 seconds. Heyd moved into sixth place all-time in the 60-meter dash in program history, while Hughes is now situated at number seven all-time.

 Both teams will compete next at the Dordt Invitational on Saturday in Sioux Center, Iowa.