The University of Minnesota Duluth men's/women's track & field teams posted a strong start to their 2022-23 indoor season on Saturday afternoon at the College of St. Scholastica Opener in Duluth. Across both teams, the Bulldogs notched ten first-place finishes on the day. Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State, St. Scholastica, Lakehead University, Wisconsin-Superior, North Central (Minn.) and Northland College all competed on Saturday in Duluth. 

The Bulldog men shined in the field on Saturday, notching five top-finishes across the weight throw, shot put, triple jump, high jump and pole vault. In the men's weight throw and shot put, Bulldog Colton Kostynick, earned the top spot with throws of 16.07m in the weight throw and 15.72m in the shot put. Kyle Kucera earned a first place finish in the pole vault with clearance of 4.00m. William Heydt landed the top spot in the triple jump with a launch of 13.96m and in the men's high jump, Bulldog Luke Oberleitner grabbed the top spot with a personal best jump of 1.95m. Other top performances in the field events came by landing four of the top five spots in the men's weight throw -- Kostynick (1st), Eli Bicek (2nd), Jackson Weston (3rd), and Connor Kostynick (5th). The Bulldogs also swept the top three spots in the men's shot put with Kostynick (1st), Bicek (2nd), and Weston (3rd). Not to be out done, the Bulldog jumps team landed three in the top ten of the long jump. Led by triple jump champion William Heydt (2nd), Cooper Nichols (6th), and Luke Oberleitner (8th). 

The UMD women's team also had a solid day in the field with 15 top ten finishes and a first place finish in the women's high jump. Emily Jones cleared 1.60m to finish in first. UMD was led in the long jump by Jacqi Rae who took second with a leap of 5.10m followed by teammates Lindsey Root (4.99m - 5th) and Cora McCabe (4.42m - 11th). The top two finishers in the women's triple jump for the Bulldogs were Kate Fitzgerald (second - 10.82m) and Emily Jones (third - 10.63m). In the women's pole vault, the Bulldogs scored fourth (Libby Lommel - 2.95m), fifth (Jadyn Krull - 2.80m) and sixth (Sabrina Segar -2.80m) place finishes. In the women's shot, UMD also placed fourth (Segar - 10.87m), fifth (Svea Smestad - 10.78m), and sixth (Kayce Gielski - 10.09m). Lastly, the top two finishers in the women's weight throw were Kayce Gielski (4th - 14.30m) and Madeline Klun (7th - 12.70m). 

In the running events, the Bulldogs were tops in the 60m hurdles (men) and 60m hurdles (women) as well as the men's 400m and 600m. In the 60m hurdles, Samuel Blomberg turned in a personal best of 8.76 seconds. Matching Blomberg's first place finish was Megan Gilles in the 60m hurdles in a personal best time of 9.41 seconds. In the men's 400m, it was Bulldog Bereket Loer landing the top spot with a time of 51.89 seconds. In the 600m, Alexander Croston crossed the finish line in first with a time of 1:26.80 (following a close second was Brennan Amundson - 1:28.32). Other notably performances came in the women's 60m, where Emily Anderson set a meet record (top five performance in the NSIC) in the prelims but was edged in the finals by a new meet record to take second place with a time of 7.78 seconds. The women's 200m saw four Bulldogs finish in the top ten -- (Lindsey Root, fourth, 27.03), (Jacqi Rae, fifth, 27.29), (Chloey Evans, sixth, 27.62), and (Adalyn Lehman, seventh, 27.64). The Bulldog men also landed four in the top ten of the men's 200m -- (Josh Miley, second, 22.78), (Ted Rogers, third, 22.91), (Cole Brisbois, seventh, 23.46), and (Carson Giddings, ninth, 23.70). In the men's mile, UMD's Jordan Gruenes finished in third (4:34.40) and Sam Ringger finished fourth (4:37.62). 

Coach Brautigam's Thoughts on the women's team:
"It was great to see our team go out there and enjoy the competition after months of training. We had some new faces make an immediate impact and some veterans finally get to reap the benefits from the work they've put in all off season. I think we walked away excited for what's to come and hungry for more -- which is a sweet spot after a December meet."

Coach Brautigam's Thoughts on the men's team:
"I loved how our young guys came out and competed with confidence. They understand that they can impact our success immediately. Our upperclassman also showed that they put in a ton of work this off season. A lot of returners picked up right where they left off last spring, if not better. Excited for what's to come in 2023."

Up Next
Both teams will enjoy the holiday break before returning to action on Jan. 13, for the Minnesota State Invite in Mankato, Minn.