Brookings, S.D. – The Tiger track team wrapped up their 2022-23 Indoor season with their three athletes competing in the NAIA Indoor National Championships. Wyatt Baldauf competed in the mile and 3K, just missing a chance at the finals in the mile by .04 seconds. Caleb Sayler competed in the 5K. Rounding up the final day was Lila Gronseth competing in the shot put. All three athletes posted strong seasons and marks with multiple school records and top-10 performances, but it didn't quite end the way they wanted to at Nationals but will look to learn and build from it heading into the outdoor season.
Individual Results: Click on the link to see all individual results from the NAIA Indoor National Championships.
NAIA National Qualifiers Events:
- Wyatt Baldauf – 1 mile- 4:14.90 (12th missed top 10 by .04 seconds) / 3K- 8:51.20.
- Caleb Sayler – 5K- 15:37.24
- Lila Gronseth – Shot Put- 12.74m
Athlete Highlight/Quote:
Caleb Sayler – Best finishes on the season ~ 5K- 14:59.29 (2nd All-Time), 1K- 2:32.65 (2nd All-Time), 1 Mile- 4:22.94 (2nd All-Time) and 3K- 8:52.22 (4th All-Time).
When asked about the 2022-23 indoor season, moments that stood out and the experience of competing at Nationals, Sayler had this to say, "To say this season has been amazing is an understatement. The times I ran this year are times that seemed nearly impossible a year ago. There are two moments that stand out to me from this season and that is running the 1K at home with my teammates and breaking the 15 minute barrier in the 5K. It's crazy to think I came here running 17:20 in the 5K and only ran 16:06 in the 5K last year. Nationals did not go how I wanted. Racing at a national track meet was so different that anything I'd ever experienced. The tactics are tough to adjust to. 10 laps in my mind started slipping and unfortunately, I lost the mental game. Being here as a sophomore is a unique experience. I plan to take the lessons I've learned and the momentum I've gained from this indoor season with me into the outdoor season. Thanks for all your support!"
Lila Gronseth – Best marks on the season ~ Shot Put- 13.24m (2nd All-Time) and Weight Throw- 14.68m (5th All-Time).
When asked about the 2022-23 indoor season, moments that stood out and the experience of competing at Nationals, Gronseth had this to say, "Nationals was full of some very talented individuals and I was honored to be competing amongst them. The whole season went a different way than I expected and did not end the way I wanted. Despite that, I still learned a lot, physically and mentally, and I am ready to put that into action right away with outdoor season starting here shortly. My favorite part about indoor season was the Conference Championship. We had a lot of individuals place in the top 8 and it was awesome to be a part of that energy and see friends that worked hard to accomplish great things."
Wyatt Baldauf – Best finishes on the season ~ 3K- 8:26.67 (School Record), 1 Mile- 4:12.71 (School Record), 5K- 14:55.97 (School Record) and 1K- 2:30.25 (School Record).
When asked about the 2022-23 indoor season, moments that stood out and the experience of competing at Nationals, Baldauf had this to say, "After a day of reflection I am proud of everything me and my teammates have accomplished this indoor season. It will take awhile to recoup from a personally disappointing national's weekend. However, this indoor season has brought me a lot of success and showed me that I belong running with some of the best in the NAIA. I would like to personally thank both coach Malonda and coach Rosado. Expectations throughout the season have changed rapidly, last year nationals was only a dream. These coaches have given all of us the tools and ability to perform every time we step on the line. I look forward to finishing my senior season this outdoor season and I am excited to see what our team can accomplish. I hope to be able to finish the job at the end of May."
Coaches quotes:
Matt Rosado – "Nationals weekend didn't turn out the way we would have liked, but nonetheless I am extremely proud of what these three have done throughout this indoor season. We preach all the time no one performance defines us and all the things that led to these races and throws are a product of the cultural shift we have made as a program."
Up Next:
The Tiger track team closes out their indoor season and next compete in the outdoor season when they travel to Wayne, Neb. for the Wildcat Classic, March 24th and 25th.