GRONSETH REGISTERS NAIA ‘B’ STANDARD IN SHOT PUT, TIGERS BATTLE STIFF COMPETITION AT USD EARLY BIRD INVITE

VERMILLION, S.D. – Sunny and windy conditions set the scene across the South Dakota horizon as the Dakota Wesleyan University track and field program battled the likes of NCAA Division I, Division II, NAIA and NJCAA competition at the USD Early Bird Invite from the Lillibridge Track and Field Complex in Vermillion, S.D. Lila Gronseth, placing top-20 in both the discus throw and shot put, notched an NAIA 'B' standard in the shot put competition while Caden Milmine furthered his current standard in the shot put as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Gronseth, the Sargeant, Minn., native continued her hot start to the outdoor season beginning in the women's shot put. The Dakota Wesleyan throws specialist, who placed 13^th in the field, dialed a mark of 43-00.5 (13.12m) on her first attempt of the day good enough for the standard. Gronseth also tallied a distance of 133-01 (40.56m) in the discus throw and managed a top-20 finish. 

 Milmine, meanwhile has progressed his momentum in the shot put stemming from the indoor season and now ranks 12^th in the event on the NAIA national outdoor leaderboards. The DWU senior thrower clocked his best performance of the day on his initial attempt which traveled 51-5.5 (15.68m) good enough for ninth. 

Elsewhere in the throwing events, Katlyn Briggs registered a top-15 placing in the hammer, 151-4.5 (46.14m), and Avany Long notched a throw of 94-06 (28.80m) on her second attempt in the women's javelin. Nate Rupprecht, competing in both the pole vault and javelin, finished just outside the top-20 on the javelin runway with a toss of 128-11.75 (39.31m).

Jumps specialist and Tiger senior Lia Guigui notched a 13^th placing in the high jump while Ashtyn Evans leaped to a distance of 32-4.25 (9.86m) in the triple jump pit. In the men's triple jump, Cale Strong dialed a leap of 42-9.5 (13.04m) on his second run through. Rounding out the day was the women's 4x100 meter relay of Taylor Pourier, Guigui, Adaya Plastow and Long clocking a time of 53.65 seconds.

UP NEXT

The outdoor campaign charges ahead for the Tigers with the Sioux City Relays on deck on Friday and Saturday from Elwood Olsen Stadium on the campus of Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Full DWU Women's Results
4x100m Relay

11^th -Taylor Pourier, Lia Guigui, Adaya Plastow, Avany Long – 53.65

High Jump
13^th – Lia Guigui – 5-01 (1.55m) 

Triple Jump
18^th – Ashtyn Evans – 32-4.25 (9.86m)  
 
Shot Put
13^th – Lila Gronseth – 43-0.50 (13.12m)  

Discus Throw

17^th – Lila Gronseth – 133-01 (40.56m)  

22^nd – Katlyn Briggs – 128-6.5 (39.18m)

Hammer Throw 

15^th – Katlyn Briggs – 151-4.5 (46.14m)

23^rd – Morgan Taft – 141-10.5 (43.24m)

Javelin

22^nd – Avany Long – 94-06 (28.80m)   

 Full DWU Men's Results 
Triple Jump
13^th – Cale Strong – 42-9.5 (13.04m) 

Pole Vault

21^st – Nate Rupprecht – 11-6.75 (3.52m)

Shot Put
9^th – Caden Milmine – 51-5.5 (15.68m)

Hammer
24^th – Chris Zanotto –149.8.25 (45.62m)  

Javelin

22^nd – Nate Rupprecht – 128-11.75 (39.31m)