The Minnesota Duluth Men's Track and Field team will begin their outdoor season on April 1st at the Wartburg Outdoor Select meet in Waverly, IA. UMD was selected to finish seventh in the preseason NSIC poll. The Bulldogs will look to improve upon their eighth place outdoor finish from last season --- led by returning student-athletes Nick Jacobson (junior) and Colton Kostynick (junior).

Blaine, MN native, Nick Jacobson is returning for his third season with the Bulldogs Track & Field team and he looks to continue his performance from this seasons indoor track & field campaign. Last season, Jacobson improved his 9:04.29 time in the 3000-meter run to 8:54.83. Jacobson then improved that by 19 seconds, setting his new personal best last month at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships with a time of 8:35.77.  Jacobson also set personal bests in the 5000-meter run and the mile time earlier this season. Jacobson improved his 5000-meter run from last season by a whole minute. Jacobson went from 15:28.09 all the way down to 14:27.88. Jacobson then went on to improve his mile time multiple times between last season and this season. He started last season with a mile time of 4:34.19 and had shaved it down to 4:18.93. 

"Nick has secured himself among the distance elite in the Northern Sun this season with an All-Conference finish in Cross Country, and the conference leading time in the 3k and top 5 mark in the mile so far this indoor season. Nick has proven range and is just getting started with his career", said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Karly Brautigam.

Fellow junior, Colton Kostynick will be returning for his third season as well. Kostynick will lead the Bulldogs in the four throwing events of Discus, Hammer Throw, Shot put, and Weight Throw. Last season was Kostynick's first season in Discus Throw and Hammer Throw. Kostynick set his personal bests in both events. His Hammer Throw best was 41.51m and his Discus Throw best was 48.6m. Kostynick has been throwing in Shot put and Weight throw for his whole collegiate career. When he fist joined the Bulldogs in 2019, his Shot put came in at 12.66m and his Weight Throw came in at 13.01m. Kostynick made strides during his first season and started his second season with a 14.59m Shot put and a 14.71m Weight Throw. Kostynick is still improving on those throws as he set new personal bests last month. He threw a 16.22m Shot put and a 16.52m Weight Throw. 

"Colton has the ability to score in Disc, Hammer, and Shot, making him one of the most well-rounded throwers in the conference with big shot and weight PRs during the indoor season, he will have plenty of momentum going in to outdoor," said Brautigam.

UMD has a lot to look forward to as the outdoor season closes in.

"Our men's squad will be full strength this outdoor season with more depth in sprints and distance. We will have point scorer potential in every event group and the depth to make a greater team finish push outdoors," said Brautigam.

The Bulldogs will start their outdoor season on April 1st as they travel to Waverly, Iowa to compete in the Wartburg Outdoor Select. This season, the Bulldogs NSIC conference schedule will come to a close on May 12th as they will travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota for the NSIC Championships. The NCAA Championships follows during the May 26-28 dates in Allendale, Michigan.