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Mens Track and Field 7th at Norse Relays

Mark Bresnan
April 9, 2001

Only one week after an impressive season-opening performance in Atlanta, the St. Olaf men's track and field team stumbled in Saturday's Norse Relays, hosted by Luther College. The Oles felt their depth would boost their standing in the relay-dominated meet, but despite a few outstanding performances they could muster only a seventh-place finish in the fourteen-team field.

Runner-up finishes by the 4X1600 and 4X400 meter relay teams bookended a blustery day in Decorah. A fine leadoff leg by Andrew Cole (Jr., Mankato, Minn.) put the Oles in contention in the longer event, and Peder Arneson (FY, Montevideo, Minn.), Robert Hillard (So., Columbia, Mo.) and Mark Sullivan (So., West Bend, Wis.) all flirted with the lead before finishing in 18:06. Corey Dingel?s (Jr., Gibbon, Minn.) carry in the 4X4 proved decisive as the quartet, also featuring Ryan Noreen (So., Bloomington, Minn.), Matt Wieland (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) and Mark Bresnan (Sr., Indianola, Iowa), separated from the field and chased a strong team from Wartburg, finishing in a fine 3:21.00. The 1600 meter medley relay squad brought home the Oles' lone victory, as Noreen, Wieland, and Bresnan teamed with Gaute Johnsen (So., NORWAY) to dominate the field in 3:32.1. Noreen, Wieland, and Johnsen earlier joined first-year Matt Johnson (Richfield, Minn.) to take fifth in the 4X100, finishing first in their heat with a time of 43.8.

Hurdler Kyle Korynta (So., Grand Forks, Nd.) took advantage of a strong tailwind in the 110 meter high hurdles, taking seventh in a quick 15.9 seconds. He also teamed with multi-eventer Jon Berg (Sr., Golden Valley, Minn.), Mark Murakami (Jr., Chicago, Ill.) and Neal Olson (So., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) to finish third in the shuttle hurdle relay.

The jumps were another strength for the Oles, as Berg and Dingels took second and fifth in the long jump, respectively. Dingels cleared 6'3.25" in the high jump to place fourth.

The St. Olaf men will travel to Gustavus on Friday, April 13, hoping to improve on a showing that netted them only 57 points, well behind team champion Wisconsin-Platteville's 108.

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.