SUPERIOR, Wis. - The University of Northwestern Men's Track and Field team opened competition at the UMAC Outdoor Championships with a strong showing, highlighted by key point-scoring performances as the Eagles sit tied for fifth place with 17 points, only two points behind North Central in fourth, heading into the final day.
Remi Fagerland (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Central) led the way in the field events, earning an impressive second-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 47.65m (156' 4"), adding eight points for Northwestern. On the track, Tyler Dueber (Bloomington, Minn./Homeschool) delivered a standout performance in the 3000m steeplechase, placing sixth with a personal-best time of 10:38.39 to score three points.
Joshua Ringsmuth (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) picked up a point, finishing 8th in the 800m with a time of 2:06.97, while the 4x800m relay team of Ringsmuth, Samuel Otis (Shoreview, Minn./Homeschool), Peter Kephart (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern), and Owen Van De Riet (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) secured a fourth-place finish in 8:49.54 to contribute five points.
Several athletes turned in personal-best performances on the day. Cody Johnson (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) recorded a personal-best 24.24 in the 200m and added a season-best mark of 5.76m (18' 10.75") in the long jump. Reid Jelks (South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul) also posted a personal best in the 200m (25.76), while Cody Mercado (Arden Hills, Minn./Fourth Baptist Christian School) clocked a personal best 2:38.61 in the 800m. Dueber's steeplechase performance marked another PR for the Eagles.
In the sprints, John Shevchuk (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) ran 11.70 in the 100m prelims before posting a season-best 23.24 in the 200m. Will Dorch (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens) added times of 11.81 in the 100m prelims and 24.22 in the 200m.
Otis also competed in the javelin, recording a throw of 34.40m (112' 10") to round out Northwestern's efforts in the field.
Northwestern will return tomorrow to conclude the UMAC Championships. The Eagles will then continue their postseason at the NCCAA National Championships on May 7-8 in Wilmore, Kentucky.
