SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Three top placements highlighted the Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's track and field teams as they competed at the Dordt Invitational on Saturday.
In the triple jump, Lydia Gerber (Canton, S.D.) had her best day of the season as she won the event with a leap of 37-1.25 feet (11.31m). Her mark also ranks third nationally. Gerber also competed in the 55-meter dash and took fourth with a time of 7.57 seconds. Her time moved her into fifth all-time in program history in the 55-meter dash.
In the throwing ring, Morgan Taft (Norris, S.D.) and Darby Deffenbaugh (Kimball, S.D.) went first and second in the weight throw. Taft won the event with a toss of 49-1.5 feet (14.94m), while Deffenbaugh took second after a mark of 44-2.5 feet (13.47m).
Jocelyn Krouse (Montrose, S.D.) also competed in the weight throw and took fifth after a throw of 39-11.25 feet (12.17m). In the shot put, freshman Lila Gronseth (Sargeant, Minn.) finished in sixth place after a mark of 36-5.5 feet (11.11m).
Back on the track, freshman Tessa Kilber (Ipswich, S.D.) took sixth in the 1,000-meter run and 600-meter dash. She clocked a time of 3:16.53 minutes in the 1,000-meter event, while she finished in 1:51.17 minutes in the 600-meters. Kilber's time in the 1,000-meters moved her into fifth on the program all-time list.
Avany Long (Oacoma, S.D.) competed in the 55-meter hurdles and the high jump. She took fifth in the 55-meter hurdles after a time of 9.56 seconds. Her time was good for ninth on the program all-time list. Long also finished in seventh in the high jump after a leap of 4-8.25 feet (1.43m). Her mark was good for eighth all-time in the event.
On the men's side, Benjamin Heyd (LaMoure, N.D.) and Austin Hughes (Box Elder, S.D.) took fifth and sixth in the 55-meter dash, respectively. Heyd finished in 6.75 seconds, as Hughes clocked a time of 6.77 seconds.
Justin Sorensen (Vermillion, S.D.) was the third Tiger that came away with a first-place finish as he won the 800-meter open. He finished in 2:03.42 minutes. Hunter Shanks (Bennington, Neb.) sits 10th all-time in the 600-meter dash after a time of 1:28.71 minutes. He also is ninth all-time in the 1,000-meter run after a mark of 2:43.64 minutes.
Cale Strong (Norfolk, Neb.) and Austin Moen (Webster, S.D.) finished fourth and fifth in the triple jump, respectively.
Caden Milmine (Buffalo, Wyo.) took second place in the shot put thanks to a throw of 50-11.5 feet (15.53m), which put him ninth in the NAIA. Ryan Kienzle (Gillette, Wyo.) also took part in the shot put and took fourth place with a mark of 45-1 feet (13.74m).
Chris Zanotto (Blair, Neb.) finished in second place in the weight throw thanks to a toss of 49-10 feet (15.19m). Zanotto's throw moved him into seventh all-time in program history.
The Tigers will compete next at the Mount Marty Invitational on Saturday in Yankton, S.D.