MANKATO, Minn. --- At a meet where many student-athletes took the weekend off, the distance medley relay team kept the theme of success rolling for the men's track and field team.

In the first event of the day, the team comprised of Austin Pasch (Tomah, Wis), Zach Gearman (Burnsville, Minn.), Victor Bowen (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Austin O'Brien (Bettendorf, Iowa) came on step closer towards earning a trip to Birmingham as they met the provisional qualifying standard at 10:06.26. This also currently ranks theme as the eighth-best finish in Divison II this season. Not to be forgotten, the 4x400 relay team also had a fantastic day. Comprised of Gearman, Justin McMurtry (Fairmont, Minn.), Nathan Hancock (Independence, Mo.) and Javontee Brice (Bradenton, Fla.) finished in second at 3:22.59.

In the individual events, freshman Geno Bullard (Nassau, Bahamas) set the tone early as he finished third in the 60-meter dash, running it in 6.97. For the 60-meter hurdles, Zechariah Copeland (Brookfield, Wis) led the Maverick charge finishing sixth in Mankato. However, record-holder Myles Hunter (Conyers, Ga.) also competed today in Lincoln, Neb. at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitiational. Hunter swept the finals full of Division I athletes finishing with a final time of 7.77.

Senior Anthony Gustafson (Faribault, Minn.) earned a share of the first-place title in the 200-meters as the exciting finish proved to be too close to call. Camera replay showed both Gustafson and a UW-La Crosse athlete both crossing at 22.330. Fellow senior Nathan Hancock also earned a top-five finish in the 400-meters at 50.65.

In the 600-meters, Alexander Schoneberger (Bemidji, Minn.) and McMurtry finished first and second, respectively, with Schoneberger topping to group at 1:25.32. The 800-meters would see junior Ryan Ness (St. Paul, Minn.) lead the Mavericks in fourth-place with a time of 1:57.20.

For the field events, freshman Calvin Deike (Mankato, Minn.) posted the best height of his career in the pole vault at 14'0.5". The long jump would see sophomore Rumeal Harris (Eden Prairie, Minn.) finish second with his lunge of 21'1.5".

Minnesota State would earn yet another first-place crown as Khalil Jor'dan (Eagan, Minn.) topped the triple jump group at 47'5.25". Frank Veldman (Eagan, Minn.) also finished successfully in fourth-place at 44'1.25".

Rounding out the day was sophomore Bryan Caffin (Hudson, Wis.) who finished the shot put at 47'7" and the weight throw at 50'7.25". Those marks were good enough for ninth and sixth, respectively.

Full meet results can be viewed HERE.
 

Next weekend will see the Mavericks head west on Highway 14 as they are scheduled to take part in the SDSU Indoor Invitation, held in Brookings, S.D.

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