Warriors Start Postseason Ramp Up at Pair of Meets

CRETE, Neb. – Midland University had a strong week with athletes competing at the Kansas Relays and the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic. Several athletes reached their season-bests as they began ramping up for the season's end.

At the prestigious Kansas Relays, the Warriors had several impressive showings. Henri Stoeckermann and Blake Olbrich tackled the 800m event, with Stoeckermann clinching 5th place with a commendable time of 1:56.42. Olbrich secured 35th place with a time of 2:06.47. Lucas Hjortkjaer competed in the 1500m, finishing 33rd with a time of 4:17.80. In the 5000m, Jonathan Mahoney delivered a stellar performance, claiming 7th place with a personal-best time of 15:09.04, which also stands as the third-fastest in program history. The Warriors' 4x800m relay team, comprising Hjortkjaer, Stoeckermann, Braden Taylor, and Olbrich, showcased their collective strength with a time of 7:58.46, marking the best 4x800m time of the season for Midland and the 9th fastest in program history.

Meanwhile, at the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic, Midland athletes continued to shine, achieving numerous season bests. Aiden Mountain and Mats Albertz impressed in the 100m, with Albertz securing 6th place with a personal-best time of 11.33, and Mountain claiming the runner-up spot with a time of 11.06. The duo showcased their speed once again in the 200m, with Albertz achieving 7th place with a personal record of 23.30, closely followed by Mountain with a PR of 23.31 for 8th place. Noah Sherman delivered a notable performance in the 400m, clinching 6th place with a season-best time of 52.35, while Hunter Petterson secured 10th place with a personal-best time of 53.43.

Evan Shepard dominated the 110m hurdles, securing both victory and a new personal record with an impressive time of 15.26. Shandon Reitzel furthered Midland's success with a win in the 400m hurdles, clocking 54.41 and achieving an NAIA B Standard time. Felix Grave delivered a solid performance in the 3000m steeplechase, claiming 5th place with a personal best time of 11:08.01.

In the field events, Midland's skill was equally evident. Ross McMahon soared to victory in the high jump, clearing a height of 2.08m, while Jonah Martinez secured 10th place with a season-best height of 1.82m. Aubrey Woodard impressed in the long jump, claiming 2nd place with a jump of 6.38m, followed closely by Garrett Guindon and Santiago Mansilla in 4th and 5th place, with jumps of 6.37m and 6.21m. Guindon also secured 6th place in the triple jump with a distance of 12.92m.

In the javelin, Jase Voorhees led the charge with a toss of 49.06m, securing 3rd place, with McMahon closely following in 4th place with a throw of 47.56m, and Josiah Meyer claiming 6th place with a distance of 46.87m.

With just one final meet before the start of the postseason, the Warriors will look to continue to improve upon their marks at the Prairie Wolf Invite next week. The final scheduled regular-season meet is set to take place on Thursday, April 25 in Lincoln, Nebraska.