MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS

Wayne, Neb. – The Minnesota State men’s track and field team won the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outdoor Track Championship Saturday afternoon held in Wayne, Neb.

Head coach Mark Shuck was named the Coach of the Year for MSU’s efforts. In claiming the championship, MSU won its second consecutive Triple Crown (championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track).

MSU finished with 193 points; 95 points ahead of the second-place finisher, Minnesota Duluth.
Junior Denis Mokaya, who was voted the meet’s Track Athlete of the Year, won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.70 and the 1500-meter run with a time of 3:55.82. Other Mavericks earning individual titles include sophomore Adedayo Ologunde, who won the triple-jump with a leap of 13.99 meters and junior Michael Robinson, who won the discus with a throw of 48.73 meters. Sophomore Dana Schmidt also won an individual championship in the 5000-meter run with a time of 14:57.80.

Other Mavericks who scored points include: Senior Kelvin Rodgers (100-meter dash; second; :11.04); sophomore Kyle Henderson (100-meter dash; fourth; :11.23); junior Sam Lance (400-meter dash; second; :48.55); senior Mike Elliot (400-meter dash; fourth; :49.55); junior Brady Flies (400-meter dash; seventh; :50.30); freshman Nick Ramberg (fourth; 800-meter dash; 1:56.10); junior Jame Krajsa (second; 1500-meter run; 3:56.26), (5000-meter run; third; 15:22.93) freshman Mastafa Yusuf (1500-meter run; fifth; 4:02.14); senior Ben Klungtvedt (5000-meter run; eighth; 15:35.03); freshman Lucas Torres (400-meter hurdles; fourth; :55.53); senior Phil Olson (triple jump; eighth; 13.38-meters); sophomore Todd Dejong (shot put; third; 15.46 meters); sophomore Jeremy Soupir(shot put; fifth; 14.97-meters); freshman Tyler Velzke (discus, second; 47.20-meters), (shot put; seventh; 14.89-meters).

In the relays, MSU finished second in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:19.55. That relay team was comprised of Elliot, sophomore Adam Endres, Flies and Lance.

The squad of Elliot, Rodgers; Henderson and sophomore Scott Lustig finished third in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of :42.12.

Minnesota State’s next action will come in the 2009 NCAA Championships hosted by Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas.