The Red Raider track team participated in the Wartburg College Triangular on Saturday in Waverly. The Raiders finished first in six different events. The Wartburg College Triangular is a three-team event that included Briar Cliff and Wartburg as the other teams scheduled to compete.
“I felt really blessed to be out there, both watching and competing,” said sophomore Jess Sawatzky. “It was really amazing to see everyone do really well out there.”
Senior Taylor Bodin won the men’s 800-meter and met the NAIA provisional mark with a time of 1:56.57. He had to hold off a late push from a Wartburg runner, who finised only .3 seconds behind Bodin. He also ran the first leg of the 4×400 team that finished third among nine teams.
Returning 2013 NAIA All-American junior Logan Hovland finished first in the 1,000-meter with a time of 2:43.24. Hovland then ran with junior Skyler Giddings, sophomore Kevin Martinson and sophomore Kyle Anderson to win the distance medley in 10:38.6.
Senior Kyle Heidebrink won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.57, and senior Matt Huseman won the high jump. He cleared two-meters. Sophomore Abigail Stevens won the long jump with a personal best of 4.67 meters. Freshman Jahdai Dunk finished second in the women’s 60 meters, and sophomore Lauren Spranger (400 meters) and senior Dawn Gildersleeve (800 meters) also finished second in their respective events.
“I enjoy being able to get out and compete,” Dunk said. “Everyone was having fun, and not only did I learn a lot, but we all did well. I was very proud of how we all carried ourselves and how the seniors really led us out there.”
The Raiders did exceptionally well with numerous top five finishes, including 18 top-three finishes. They are back in action this Saturday at the BVU Open in Storm Lake. First events begin at 9 a.m.
