TWO NAIA STANDARDS AND A PROGRAM RECORD SHATTERED; TIGER THROWERS OVERTAKE 57TH ANNUAL SIOUX CITY RELAYS

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Windy and sunny conditions set the scene for the Dakota Wesleyan University track and field team with the commencing of the 57th Annual Sioux City Relays on Friday and Saturday from Elwood Olsen Stadium on the campus of Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. The DWU throwers made the most of the opportunity by putting on a clinic in the throwing events en route to several top-10 finishes, multiple NAIA standards, a program record and event title against fellow Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) competitors.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Tiger men began the momentum on Friday in the shot put pit with Caden Milmine and Chris Zanotto dueling in the event. Zanotto, the throws specialist from Blair, Neb., dialed a mark of 43-4.5 (13.22m) on his first attempt of the day good enough for a top-10 placing.

Milmine meanwhile punched his ticket to the event finals and swept all conference competitors with a best of 48-4.5 (14.74m). The Dakota Wesleyan senior notched a fourth-place finish overall and currently sits in the top-15 nationally in the shot. 

Zanotto continued Dakota Wesleyan's hot start with a big lifetime best in the hammer throw, and the Blair High School product eclipsed the 50-meter mark on both his third and sixth attempt of the afternoon. After reaching the finals, he managed a sixth-place performance with a best of 167-5.25 (51.03m).

Also placing sixth in the hammer, Katlyn Briggs overtook fellow Tiger throws specialist Morgan Taft for the program record in the event after a mark of 155-3.75 (47.34m) on her fifth attempt. The Plankinton, S.D. sophomore advanced to the finals while Darby Deffenbaugh and Lila Gronseth recorded marks of 136-3 (41.53m) and 122-0.25 (37.19m), respectively.

The main event of opening day, an impressive four lady Tigers reached the finals of the discus throw, as every Dakota Wesleyan thrower placed in the top eight of the field. Deffenbaugh and Abbigail Magnuson claimed the top-2 spots in flight two with throws of 126-11.25 (38.69m) and 125-1.25 (38.13m) while Briggs and Gronseth rounded out the top three of the final section.

Briggs, the DWU record holder in the weight throw as well, notched a runner-up performance and NAIA 'B' standard on her second run through in the finals with a mark of 139-2.5 (42.43m). Gronseth finished just one spot behind in third place with a season best of 137-1 (41.78m).

Concluding Friday's action and competing in her first collegiate meet, Tiger freshman Abbie Larson leaped into coemption in the women's triple jump and clocked a finish of 14.63 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

In Saturday's field, Gronseth, the throws specialist from Sargeant, Minn., prolonged her hot start in the shot put by capturing both the event title and an NAIA 'A' standard. Her second trip through the order proved to be the difference maker as she topped the final section with a distance of 45-8.5 (13.93m) and now moves into second all-time in the event in program history. Magnuson, the dual-sport athlete, secured a 12^th-place performance off a heave of 37-9.25 (11.51m).

UP NEXT

On deck, head coach Matt Rosado and the DWU track and field program travel to Nebraska for the Loper Invitational set for 11 a.m. on Friday from Kearney, Neb.

Full DWU Women's Results

100m Dash 

 Abbie Larson – 14.63 

Triple Jump

 Abbie Larson – ND

Discus Throw

2^nd - Katlyn Briggs – 139-02.5 (42.43m) * NAIA B Standard

3^rd – Lila Gronseth – 137-01 (41.78m)

6^th – Darby Deffenbaugh – 126-11.25 (38.69m)

7^th – Abbigail Magnuson – 125-1.25 (38.13m)

Hammer Throw 

6^th – Katlyn Briggs – 155-3.75 (47.34m) – School Record  

12^th – Darby Deffenbaugh – 136-3 (41.53m)

17^th – Lila Gronseth – 122-0.25 (37.19m)  

Shot Put

1^st – Lila Gronseth – 45-8.5 (13.93m) * NAIA A Standard

12^th – Abbigail Magnuson – 37-9.25 (11.51m)  

 Full DWU Men's Results
Hammer Throw 

6^th – Chris Zanotto – 167-5.25 (51.03m)  

Shot Put  

4^th – Caden Milmine – 48-4.5 (14.74m)

10^th – Chris Zanotto – 43-4.5 (13.22m)