Season Bests, All-American Finish Culminate Men’s Season at NAIA Meet

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Braden Kalvelage earned his third career outdoor NAIA All-American finish on Thursday, leaping to a 7.53m mark for third place. Season bests highlighted the rest of the Raiders' men's qualifiers at the NAIA Championships.

Starting on Wednesday, lightning delays kept Northwestern's relays off the track longer than expected, but they emerged at an electric pace to set season bests in the 4x100m and 4x800m. The 4x100 team of Carter Van Donge, Collin Bliven, Braden Kalvelage, and Mike Rodriguez narrowly missed out on the finals, placing 10^th with a season-best time of 40.52. The 4x800m relay team of Carson Van Sickle, Dietrich Dirks, Quinlan Rundquist, and Caleb Tofteland followed with their best run of the season, crossing the finish in 7:38.06.

On Thursday, Kalvelage's second jump set the tone as he advanced to the NAIA's top eight for the third time in his outdoor career, hitting a 7.53m jump to finish third in the event. Later in the day, following another weather delay, Van Sickle finished 20^th in the 800m before Braden Kalvelage closed his career with an 18^th-place finish in the 100m.

RAIDER RESULTS
Braden Kalvelage – 3^rd; Long Jump (7.53m)
Van Donge, Bliven, Kalvelage, Rodriguez – 10^th; 4x100m (40.52)
Braden Kalvelage – 18^th; 100m (10.80)
Van Sickle, Dirks, Rundquist, Tofteland – 19^th; 4x800m (7:38.06)
Carson Van Sickle – 20^th; 800m (1:52.55)

Up Next: On the women's side, Addison Smith will compete in the high jump tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. (CT).

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

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Braden Kalvelage: 6' 0"; Senior

Mike Rodriguez: 6' 2"; Junior

Carter Van Donge: 6' 0"; Freshman

Carson Van Sickle: 6' 3"; Sophomore

Collin Bliven: 6' 3"; Freshman

Dietrich Dirks: 6' 2"; Freshman

Quinlan Rundquist: 5' 10"; Freshman

Caleb Tofteland: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Braden Kalvelage
: 6' 0"; Senior

Mike Rodriguez
: 6' 2"; Junior

Carter Van Donge
: 6' 0"; Freshman

Carson Van Sickle
: 6' 3"; Sophomore

Collin Bliven
: 6' 3"; Freshman

Dietrich Dirks
: 6' 2"; Freshman

Quinlan Rundquist
: 5' 10"; Freshman

Caleb Tofteland
: Freshman