Matadi Lights Up Day One of NSIC Championships

Sioux Falls, S.D. --- The Minnesota State men's track and field team returned to the track this afternoon as they kicked off the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Senior Emmanuel Matadi (St. Paul, Minn.) is no stranger to the spotlight and shined once again. In the 100-meter dash, Matadi posted a time of 10.19 which rises him from the tie he was currently in for the school-record. This time also propels him back into first in Division II. Kyran Stewart (Camilla, Ga.) followed with a time of 10.35 vaulting him into sixth in Division II. Richard Wilhite, Jr. (Minneapolis, Minn.) finished at 10.55 with all three getting another shot in the final round tomorrow afternoon. Matadi, Stewart, Wilhite and Anthony Gustafson (Faribault, Minn.) all qualified for the 200-meters as well with Matadi leading the pack at 20.77

Four Mavericks will see the track tomorrow in the 110-meter hurdles with Myles Hunter (Conyers, Ga.), Slater Powell (Corvallis, Mont.), Ben Ojika (New Brighton, Minn.) and Nathan Hancock (Independence, Mo.) all qualifying for the finals. Hancock and Powell will also get another chance tomorrow with Hancock in the open 400-meters and Powell in the 400-meter hurdles. Matthew Stocker (Salon, Iowa) and Victor Bowen (Milwaukee, Wis.) both qualified in the 800-meters as well with Stocker leading the pair at 1:54.96. Rounding out those who qualified for tomorrow is Austin O'Brien (Bettendorf, Iowa) and Brennan Holman (Sacramento, Calif.) in the 1500-meters.

The Mavericks also added some points Friday afternoon as some field events finished up. Senior Keyvan Rudd (Davenport, Iowa) captured his second outdoor high jump title leaping 6'9.75". Ojika followed in third at 6'8". Frank Veldman (Eagan, Minn.) and Alex Campbell (Ellsworth, Wis.) all found themselves on the podium as well. Campbell would go on to score four addition points for the team in the long jump finishing fifth at 23'2.5". Geno Bullard (Nassau, Bahamas) was right behind in sixth at 22'11.25".

Freshman Jayme LaPlante (Chatfield, Minn.) scored a top-three placing in his first try as a Maverick finishing third in the discus at 165'. Bryan Caffin (Hudson, Wis.) also placed in the hammer throw finishing seventh at 167'.

Through seven events scored, the Mavericks sit in first place with 46.5 points. St. Cloud State is right on their heels in second with 40 points.

Full results and live stats for tomorrow may be found HERE.

The NSIC Champions will be crowned tomorrow afternoon in Sioux Falls with field events scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

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Players Mentioned

Bryan Caffin: Sophomore; So.

Brennan Holman: Senior; So.

Myles Hunter: Sophomore; So.

Ben Ojika: Sophomore; So.

Frank Veldman: Sophomore; So.

Kyran Stewart: Senior; Jr.

Richard Wilhite, Jr.: Freshman; Jr.

Victor Bowen: Sophomore; So.

Geno Bullard: Freshman; Fr.

Jayme LaPlante: Freshman; Fr.

Players Mentioned

Bryan Caffin
: Sophomore; So.

Brennan Holman
: Senior; So.

Myles Hunter
: Sophomore; So.

Ben Ojika
: Sophomore; So.

Frank Veldman
: Sophomore; So.

Kyran Stewart
: Senior; Jr.

Richard Wilhite, Jr.
: Freshman; Jr.

Victor Bowen
: Sophomore; So.

Geno Bullard
: Freshman; Fr.

Jayme LaPlante
: Freshman; Fr.