Wayne State won two individual titles and both teams are in the top five after the first day of the 2019 Northern Sun Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Mankato, Minn.
Cade Kalkowski and Dylan Kaup led the Wildcats with a 1-2 finish in the men’s weight throw. Kalkowski was the conference champion in the event with a top mark of 66 feet, 1 3/4 inches, with Kaup right behind with an NCAA provisional mark of 64-3 1/4 that puts him 13th in NCAA Division II. Teammate Matthew Nemec also made the finals of the weight throw, but came in ninth place at 55-5 1/2.
Wayne State’s other points scored Friday came from Mikhail Sands in the long jump, placing fourth with a solid mark of 22-7 3/4.
In qualifying, junior Nathan Pearson was the No. 7 qualifier for the finals in the 800-meter run at 1:59.56. Robert Sullivan is in fourth place after the opening day of the heptathlon with 2,760 points.
In women’s action, Mikayla Marvin continued her season improvement by claiming the conference title in the pole vault with a new school record mark of 11-11 3/4.
In the weight throw, Mckenzie Scheil earned All-NSIC honors, tying for second with a top throw of 58-10 1/2, while teammate Brooklynn Chipps earned a medal with a sixth-place finish at 55-9.
In Friday qualifying, Jordyn Pester qualified third in the 400-meter dash at 57.00 seconds and Joan Jelimo was the No. 5 qualifier for the finals of the 600-meter run in a time of 1:37.61.
Sioux Falls is the team leader in men’s competition after day one of competition with 53.5 points followed by Mary in second at 42 and Minnesota State third with 29 points. Minnesota Duluth is just ahead of Wayne State, 25-23, for fourth place.
In women’s competition, University of Mary holds the first-day team lead with 43 points followed by Augustana in second (39), Minnesota State third at 20.5 points and the Wildcats fourth with 20 points.
