NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton men’s track and field team enjoyed several fantastic performances while competing against St. Olaf and Hamline at the St. Olaf Triangular.
Nick Cesarek (Sr./Eagan, Minn./Eastview) won the 200-meter dash and placed second in the 55 meter dash, finishing in 6.72, the second-fastest time of his career.
Tom Ballinger (Sr./Wenatchee, Wash.) won the 55-meter hurdles, then three minutes later crossed the line first in the 400 meter dash. That three-minute time period includes the 51.34 seconds it took him to run the race. Ballinger also placed second to Cesarek in the 200-meter dash.
Kane Bechstein (Sr./Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) won the pole vault with a height of 4.12m (13’ 6 1/4”). He also placed second behind Ballinger in the 55m hurdles.
In fact Carleton finished 1-2-3-4 in the 55m hurdle race. Dylan Bothun (So./Rosemount, Minn.) and Jameson Siegert (So./Madison, Minn./Lac Qui Parle Valley) held down third and fourth place respectively.
Siegert displayed his all-around ability on this day. In addition to posting a personal record in the hurdle race, he finished second in the high jump, third in the long jump and 11th in the shot put, with another personal best.
The most jaw dropping performance of the day came from junior Charlie Gamble (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) in the 3000 meter run, an event that is routinely a strong point for the Knights. He crossed the line in 8:25.44.
Former Carleton All-American Matt Hooley held the Tostrud Center record in the event (8:32.21) until last year when Saint John's Chris Erichsen ran 8:28. Gamble reclaimed that record for the Knights today as he out-kicked Brandon Gleason of Hamline. For perspective, former Carleton racer Steve Harris ’06 holds the MIAC Indoor Championships record is 8:33.51.
The team will be back in action at St. Olaf again on Friday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.