Men's Track and Field Monday, March 27, 2023 NWC Athletic Communications

Raider Men Open Up Chilly Outdoor Season Against NCAA Competition

Kalvelage hits personal best and "A" standard

WAYNE, Neb. – Outdoor is finally here, although looking out your window at the snow covered ground could debate you otherwise. The NWC Raiders have been itching to get outside and that was a reality this last weekend in Wayne, America. The two day meet started off on Friday with Javelin being contested with the remainder of the events being contested on Saturday, the 25^th.

Fridays competition would prove to be the nicest weather and Senior Joshua Henkenius would be take advantage of the weather and be the lone raider to make finals in the javelin throw. Going from a very short approach due to the conditions of the throwing runway, Henkenius would ultimately throw a PR of 38.65m, or 126'10" on his final throw, increasing his distance every throw. This PR would place him in 7^th place over-all. The reminder of the throwing events for the Raiders, the Shot and Disc, were contested with success for the first meet of the outdoor season. Bryan Zylstra and William Minnick would lead the Raiders through the Shot put competition with their top throws of 13.80m and 13.37m, and finishing in 11^th and 13^th respectively. Zylstra would also lead the men through the Discus throw, opening up at 41.97m for his third throw of the flight, finishing 17^th.

On the track on Saturday, the weather would not be as fruitful as Friday, but nonetheless, the Raiders would push through. Running a bit below max effort because of weather, the 100m dash would see Braden Jahn finish 3^rd in 10.90 followed very closely by Ashton Sanbulte making his collegiate debut in the event in 11.07. Preston Pfaffle would lead his heat in 11.17, a lifetime PR in the event. The 200 later would prove no less eventful as Jahn would run a 22.07 in the event. To finish off the sprint races, Elijah Weaver would just barely miss the Top-10, finishing 11^th, over the 110Hurdles in 15.96. Reese Van Zee would see the same thing in his 400m hurdle debut, finishing 11^th, in 1:02.83.

Continuing on to pushing the pace, Trey Engelmann would run his fastest season opener in the 800 at 1:58.52 to place 5^th at the NCAA competition. His PR of 1:56 was run at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship last year. The final distance race of the competition would be led by senior distance captain Joseph Kunert, finishing in 10^th place in 15:49, just off his lifetime PR of 15:45 which is quite impressive for a season opener.

Over at the jumps, the Raiders persevered through the 40 degree temps. The long jump had Braden Kalvelage jump a lifetime PR not once, but twice during the competition, with both jumps hitting the auto qualifying mark for the NAIA National Championship. His first jump of the competition would be a foul, but his third jump would be a 7.35m jump, beating his previous PR of 7.32. deeming it not good enough, his first jump of finals would be his second PR of the meet, jumping 7.41m or 24' 3.75" to finish in 2^nd place for the day. The blustery high jump pit saw Harland Groves lead the Raiders through the, ultimately finishing 4^th overall. Groves, on a short approach, would jump 1.80m, or 5' 10.75" for his best outdoor season opener.

Raider Top-10:
100m Dash

Braden Jahn 10.90 – 3^rd
Ashton Sandbulte 11.07 – 7^th

200m Dash

Braden Jahn 22.07 – 2^nd
Ashton Sandbulte – 9^th

800m Dash

Trey Engelmann 1:58.52 – 5^th

5000m Run

Joseph Kunert 15:49.82 – 10^th

High Jump

Harland Groves 1.80m – 4^th
Drew Geetings 1.75m – 5^th
Coltin Vargas 1.65m – 8^th

Long Jump

Braden Kalvelage 7.41m – 2^nd

Triple Jump

Noah Lopez 11.40m – 7^th

Javelin

Joshua Henkenius 38.65m – 7^th

Up Next: The Men's and Women's track and field teams will be traveling to Kearney, Nebraksa for the Central Nebraska Challenge on Saturday April 1.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

Trey Engelmann: Distance; Sophomore

Harland Groves: Jumps; Sophomore

Braden Jahn: Sprints; Senior

Joseph Kunert: Distance; Senior

William Minnick: Throws; Senior

Preston Pfaffle: Sprints; Junior

Drew Geetings: High Jump; Freshman

Braden Kalvelage: Jumps; Sophomore

Reese Van Zee: Mid-Distance; Freshman

Coltin Vargas: Mid-Distance; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Trey Engelmann
: Sophomore
: Distance

Harland Groves
: Sophomore
: Jumps

Braden Jahn
: Senior
: Sprints

Joseph Kunert
: Senior
: Distance

William Minnick
: Senior
: Throws

Preston Pfaffle
: Junior
: Sprints

Drew Geetings
: Freshman
: High Jump

Braden Kalvelage
: Sophomore
: Jumps

Reese Van Zee
: Freshman
: Mid-Distance

Coltin Vargas
: Freshman
: Mid-Distance