Yankton, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field teams secured a trio of event titles including a new school record, as they competed at the Mount Marty Invitational on Friday and Saturday from the Ruth Donohoe First Dakota Fieldhouse in Yankton, S.D.
In the throwing ring, Morgan Taft (Norris, S.D.) continued her strong season as she secured her third-straight event title in the weight throw. With a toss of 51-7.75 feet (15.74m) on her final attempt of the day, Taft not only captured first place, but also set the school and facility record in the event. The Tiger sophomore is now ranked ninth in the country in the weight toss.
Fellow DWU thrower Lila Gronseth (Sargeant, Minn.) captured a fifth-place finish in the shot put with a mark of 37-3.75 feet (11.37m), as her mark is ranked 10th all-time in program history.
A trio of Tigers finished top-5 at the conclusion of the long-jump event. Ashtyn Evans (Gillette, Wyo.) recorded a leap of 16-3.25 feet (4.96m) good enough for a second-place finish. Abbigail Ferris (Pierre, S.D.) and Lia Guigui (Rapid City, S.D.) ended fourth and fifth with marks of 15-11.00 feet (4.85m) and 15-7.50 feet (4.76m). Guigui, who also competed in the high jump, swept the event with a leap of 5-3.25 feet (1.61m).
On the track, Tessa Kilber (Ipswich, S.D.) commenced the running events with a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters as she crossed the finish line in 2:28.26 minutes. Kilber's time is ranked seventh all-time in in the 800 meters. Fellow distance specialist Morgan Oedekoven (Pierre, S.D.) captured an eighth-place finish in the mile race with a time of 6:04.27 minutes.
Macey Bohl (Garretson, S.D.) and Delanie Larson (Gettysburg, S.D.) concluded the day for Dakota Wesleyan as the distance duo tallied a back-to-back finish in the 5,000 meters. At the conclusion of the race, Bohl's time in the event propelled her to eighth all-time in program history in the 5,000 meters while Larson now holds the 10th fastest time in program history.
On Saturday, Caden Milmine (Buffalo, Wyo.) highlighted the action with an event title in the shot put as his performance placed him number four all-time in program history. Milmine's second attempt, which traveled 51-4.50 feet (15.66m), propelled him to the top of the leaderboard and 10th in the country. Ryan Kienzle (Gillette, Wyo.) also came away with a top-5 mark in the shot put as his toss of 44-4.00 feet (13.51m) was good enough for fifth.
Fellow DWU thrower Chris Zanotto (Blair, Neb.) executed a third-place performance in the men's weight throw. Zanotto completed a mark of 48-11.75 feet (14.93m) on his second attempt of the day.
At the jump pits, Cale Strong (Norfolk, Neb.) and Cobey Carr (Pierre, S.D.) recorded a pair of top-5 finishes in the triple jump as the duo rounded out the field events. Strong tallied a leap of 40-2.25 feet (12.25m) on his final attempt of the day which was good enough for third. Meanwhile, Carr executed a jump of 37-10.50 feet (11.54m) and posted a fifth-place performance.
On the track, Middle-distance specialists Hunter Shanks (Bennington, Neb.) and Justin Sorensen (Vermillion, S.D.) crossed the finish line consecutively in the 800 meters as the duo swept the second flight. Shanks secured a time of 2:02.23 minutes good enough for 10th all-time in program history while Sorensen finished in 2:02.31 minutes.
The Tigers will return home next weekend to host their second meet of the season from the DWU/Avera Sports and Wellness Complex in Mitchell, S.D. The women are slated to compete on Friday and the men's action will follow on Saturday.