NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The seniors, participating in the final home indoor meet, led the way for Carleton at the annual Meet of the Hearts. The Knights 4x400 meter relay was the fastest indoor race for the Carleton team since 1992. The members of that relay finished with three individual victories as well.
Nick Cesarek (Sr./Eagan, Minn./Eastview) came from behind to edge Christian Swanberg from Hamline for top honors in the 400 meter dash. With a time of 51.02, he established a new personal record. Cesarek also finished third in a very tight 55 meter dash race and ran a great leg on the 4x400 meter relay, which recorded a time of 3:24.45, only 0.08 seconds behind Hamline.
Tom Ballinger (Sr./Wenatchee, Wash.) contributed on the 4x400 relay and also ran well in his individual events, winning the 600 meter dash with a time of 1:15.20 and placing second in both the 55 meter hurdles and 200 meter dash.
The other two members of that relay, Michael Sanders (Jr./Cedar Falls, Iowa) and Jack Delehanty (Sr./Madison, Wis./Monona Grove) finished 1-2 in the 800 meter run.
Success on the track spilled over into the field events as Evan Franco (Jr./Austin, Texas/James Bowie) cleared 4.13 meters to place second in the pole vault. Teammate David Kornfeld (So./Guerneville, Calif./El Molino) PR’d at 3.68 meters in the same event.
Running in their first season of indoor track, Steven Holley (So./St. Paul, Minn./Harding) and Ezra Velazquez (Jr./ Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Hotchkiss) had solid days. Holley had personal bests in the 55m, 200m, 400m, and ran lead-off on the 4x200m relay. He trimmed an unbelievable 3.5 seconds off his previous best at the 400 meter distance. Velazquez PR'ed in the 55m and 200m, then anchored the 4x200m relay.
The team will next compete at the UNI Dome Open on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
