Coral Springs, Fla. --- The dire weather forecast has led the #9 Minnesota State men's outdoor track & field team to not participate in the Holst Invite hosted by Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, April 22^nd.  Despite weather difficulties limiting MSU's opportunities in the outdoor schedule this far this season, the Mavericks continue to have many individuals rank highly in their respective events nationally.
 
Junior James Gilbert is MSU's highest ranking individual in the national rankings and leads the Maverick contingent of nationally qualifying standards by standing second in the long jump with his mark of 7.77 m (25' 6"), with sophomore teammate Slade Heald (7.44 m; 24' 5") ranking 15^th in the same event.  Junior Carter Aguilera rocketed up to fifth nationally in the discus rankings with his mark of 54.02 m (177' 3"). 
 
Junior Tanner Maier enters the rankings this week by standing seventh in the 800 meters (1:48.91).  Also ranking seventh nationally is the Minnesota State 4x400 relay team of freshman Qai Hussey, junior Rashion Walker, senior Kenry Atubel, and sophomore Junior Pontes Da Veiga with a time of 3:10.91. 
 
The pole vault features another Maverick in seventh thanks to junior Carson Dittel's mark of 5.20 m (17' 0.75"), with fellow junior Alex Berg tying for 14^th nationally (4.91 m; 16' 1.25").  Juniors Onyekachi Ukaobasi (15.36 m; 50' 4.75") and Lorenzo Jones (15.11 m; 49' 7") are tied for eighth and tied for 13^th, respectively, on the triple jump leaderboard.
 
In the high jump, sophomore Aiden Buendorf improved to a tie for 13^th with his clearing mark of 2.09 m (6' 10.25").  Senior Abel Christiansen (14.28) is tied for 22^nd in the 110 meter hurdles, with junior teammate Renald Pierre (14.29) tying for 24^th in the same event.  
 
Standing just outside of provisionally qualifying marks but still on the national leaderboard is a contingent led by freshman Braxton Stewart who is 40^th nationally in the decathlon (5944 points).  Walker makes an appearance as an individual as he is 41^st nationally in the 400 meters with a time of 47.92.  MSU's 4x100 relay team of sophomore Armando Colome, junior Prince Nti, sophomore Steven Marks, and sophomore Ezekiel Clark are 41^st with their time of 41.07.  Junior Naishaun Jernigan enters the rankings this week in a tie for 45^th in the long jump (7.19 m; 23' 7.25"). 
 
Minnesota State is next slated to be in action on Wednesday, April 26^th at a variety of competitions.  MSU will send groupings to the Running on Hope Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota as well as to the Gustie Twilight hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College.  In addition, the Drake Relays also start that day in Des Moines, Iowa, and last through Saturday, April 29^th.