Mankato, Minn. --- The #13 Minnesota State men's indoor track & field team concluded its 2022-23 regular season by claiming the team title at the Maverick Invitational with 249 points, outpacing runner-up St. John's total of 150.
 
After flirting with clearing 17 feet in the pole vault for a majority of the season, junior Carson Dittel finally cleared the mark on his second effort at 5.19 m (17' 0.25"), joining Matt Kolb from 1986 as the only members of the Maverick 17 Foot Club.  Dittel's height easily won the competition, and moved him up to seventh nationally.  In addition to Dittel's performance, sophomore Alex Berg set a career-high by clearing a provisional mark of 4.82 m (15' 9.75") to take second, with sophomore Jedidah Hansen (4.72 m; 15' 5.75") claiming third. 
 
While MSU had six of the eight participants in the finals of the 60-meter dash, none could keep up with sophomore Ezekiel Clark's blazing time of 6.74, which not only set a meet record but is tied for the third-best mark in school history.  Clark also moved up into a tie for 12^th nationally with his effort. 
 
Minnesota State runners then took third through sixth in the 60-meter dash after Clark, led by sophomore Junior Pontes Da Veiga (6.98) in third, and then followed by junior Nicholas Sharma (7.01), freshman Camden Combs (7.08), and freshman Qai Hussey (7.11).  Sophomore Jon Shaner finished eighth (7.41). 
 
The long jump saw MSU once again take six of the top eight finishers, with sophomore Slade Heald leading a sweep of the top three spots with his mark of 7:24 m (23' 9").  Following Heald were junior Naishaun Jernigan (7.11 m; 23' 4") and freshman Camden Combs (6.91 m; 22' 8").  Minnesota State then had the sixth through eighth place finishers as well:  sophomore Lorenzo Jones (6.57 m; 21' 6.75"), senior Reece Shannon (6.57 m; 21' 6.75"), and freshman Anthony Borom (6.47 m; 21' 2.75").
 
The Mavericks claimed four of the top five finishers in the weight throw led by junior Carter Aguilera's fifth individual title of the season with his season-best mark of 18.81 m (61' 8.5"), which now ranks 24^th in the nation.  Sophomore Thomas Spoehr also had a season-best toss of 18.04 m (59' 2.25") to take runner-up honors as well as hitting the provisional qualifying mark.  Junior Tommy Kucera (17.83 m; 58' 6") was third, while sophomore Zachary Shaner was fifth with a career-best throw of 16.90 m (55' 5.5").
 
Freshman Ben Wieser uncorked a season-best effort of 15.48 m (50' 9.50") to lead the MSU charge by taking second in the shot put.  Kucera (15.39 m; 50' 6") finished third, while junior Sam Moore (15.09 m; 49' 6.25") placed fourth.   
 
Sophomore Aiden Buendorf continued his season of dominance by picking up his sixth individual title in as many chances in 2022-23 in the high jump, this time clearing 2.07 m (6' 9.5").  Sophomore Jacob Ziebarth was runner-up after clearing 1.97 m (6' 5.5"), with freshman Jory Peters and senior Caleb Cowles tying for fifth after exiting at 1.92 m (6' 3.5"). 
 
Minnesota State swept the top three spots of the 60-meter hurdles, led by senior Justus Adams turning in a career-best time of 8.11 to move into 33^rd nationally.  Junior Renald Pierre was second with a time of 8.18, with freshman Owen Petersohn taking third (8.53). 
 
Sophomore Adam Bohm picked up his first career mile run title after besting the field in a time of 4:29.83.  In the 600-meter run, freshman Maquanet Collins also brought home a first-place finish for the Mavericks thanks to his time of 1:22.55, with fellow freshman Caden Speikers taking third (1:25.82).  
 
Sophomores Ray Ure and Carter Owen went 1-2 in the 3000-meter run, clocking in at 8:46.25 and 8:57.33, respectively.
 
MSU's lone scorer in the 400-meter dash was freshman Thomas Rosengren who earned runner-up honors with a time of 50.53.  In the 200-meter dash, junior Carter Nesvold was third (22.64) with freshman Camden Combs (22.90) coming home in fifth. 
 
Minnesota State will serve as the host of the 2023 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships in its next action.  The event will take place in Myers Field House on the campus of MSU on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25. 
 

Place	Team	Points
1	#13 MINNESOTA STATE	249
2	St. John's (Minn.)	150
3	Gustavus Adolphus	104
4	Southwest Minnesota State	44
5	Saint Mary's (Minn.)	23
6	Wisconsin-Superior	5