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LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Gustavus track & field team traveled to UW-La Crosse on Thursday to preview the site of the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships and attempt to add a few to the list of Gustie entrants.
Junior Jade Anstine (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was the first top-eight finisher of the day, advancing to the finals of the 100-meter and running a 10.67 for seventh place in the event. Sophomore Conner Martens (Nicollet, Minn.) continued the activity on the track, getting eighth in the 400-meter with a time of 49.33, just shy of his season best at 49.14. Junior Nick Brauer (Mankato, Minn.) was the last of the men on the track to finish in the top eight, getting sixth in the 800-meter at 1:52.57. It was the second time this season that Brauer had run the 800-meter and brought in the best time this season for the school. Senior Molly Liston (Richfield, Minn.) got second in the 5,000-meter as well with a time of 17:25.32, which beat the school record that she had previously set this season at 17:26.81 at the Rider/Bolstorff Invitational.
There were multiple high-level marks in the field for Gustavus on Thursday, starting with sophomore Kyler Flunker (Mankato, Minn.) who got over 1.99 meters in the high jump and skipped up to 2.07 to try and break the school record, but could not eclipse the height to move up in the national rankings. First-years Kaylee Hawks (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Ava Loftness (Prior Lake, Minn.) both competed in the triple jump as well, not jumping season-bests, but finished in seventh and eighth respectively with marks of 11.65 meters and 11.52 meters. Junior Olivia Duncan (Savage, Minn.) competed in the women’s discus and got seventh, along with classmate Anna Lacy (Silver Lake, Minn.) who placed seventh in the javelin and sophomore Bella Sutch (Blaine, Minn.) who placed seventh in the women’s shot put. First-year Logan Day (Wayzata, Minn.) wrapped up the throwing performances, getting eighth in the javelin with a 49.39 meter heave.
No Gustavus student-athletes jumped into the top 22 in the event with their performance today at the last chance and now await the selections for the National Championships tomorrow, May 15th by the NCAA.