NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- The MIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships took place at Carleton College in Northfield over the weekend. The two day event spanned Friday and Saturday afternoons as the top entered athletes competed for All-Conference awards.
 
Getting the momentum rolling for the Saints on day one was Josh Monreal in the weight throw. Although Monreal would have won the title outright on his first throw of the day, he didn't stop there. Monreal unleashed a big one in the finals with his best throw sailing 18.25m. This allowed Monreal to win the competition by over a full meter to garner All-MIAC honors. This is Monreal's second MIAC championship. Monreal returned to action on Saturday to snag more points for the Saints with a seventh place finish in the shot put.
 
Fellow captain Noah Kubicek (Owatona, Minn./Owatonna HS) started his three race weekend with the 400m dash on Friday afternoon. In a school record time of 48.99 seconds, Kubicek placed second overall to receive All-MIAC honors. This time also beat the previous facility record.
 
Returning on day two, Kubicek toed the line in the 600m as the favorite to win. Kubicek didn't let the pressure get to him as he surged to the lead and responded to every move thrown his way throughout the three-lap race. Kubicek roared to the finish line in dominating fashion to win in 1:20.47. This is Kubicek's first MIAC title across his illustrious career.
 
Kubicek's final event of the weekend came in his shortest endeavor. Kubicek finished fourth overall in the 200m dash in a time of 22.48 seconds. This result tacked on another All-MIAC honorable mention award to his resume.
 
In Friday's prelim of the 55m hurdles, newcomer Spencer Strohm (Barnum/Barnum High School) advanced to Saturday's finals with a fifth place ranking and seed time of 7.96 seconds. Strohm seized the moment in Saturday's final by placing third overall in a time of 7.83 seconds. This granted Strohm All-MIAC honors in the event. 
 
In another MIAC debut for the Saints, Trevor Turner found himself on the podium with a third place finish in the high jump. Turner cleared a personal best height of 1.90m. This ties Turner for the fifth position on the Saint's all-time list.
 
In the long jump, captain Anthony Mahowald (Sartell, Minn./Sartell HS) scored his first MIAC points for the Saints. Mahowald placed seventh in the long jump with a leap of 6.56m.
 
In the distance medley relay team of Jeffrey Kayfes (Buhl, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl HS), Ben Westhom, Zack Bartsch, and Connor Feldt (Buhl, MN/Mountain Iron-Buhl High School) placed sixth overall to garner All-MIAC honorable mention awards. Their time of 10:48.95 is also the sixth fastest time in the event in school history.
 
In the final event of the meet, the 4x400m relay team of Finn Eskeli (Hibbing, MN/Hibbing High School), Kayfes, Westholm, and Bartsch placed seventh overall with a time of 3:29.23. This is the tenth fastest indoor 4x400m relay in school history.
 
Other performances of note:
 
Westholm placed ninth in the mile with a personal record time of 4:22.95. This makes Westholm the fourth fastest miler in Saints history. 
 
Bartsch placed 11th in the 600m dash with a time of 1:24.42. Kayfes was on his heels with a 15th place finish in 1:24.78. These are now the fourth and fifth fastest times in school history.
 
Mason Sundquist (Cloquet, MN/Cloquet HS) placed 11th in the shot put with a best throw on the day of 13.39m.
 
Matthew Erickson (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS) finished ninth in the high jump in 1.76m. Erickson also placed 13th in the long jump with a best mark of 6.33m. Erickson returned on day two to place 12th in the triple jump. His best leap was 12.47m. 
 
Feldt placed 13th in the 1000m run with a time of 2:34.31.
 
That wraps up the indoor campaign for the majority of the Saints track and field team. With a small selection of athletes continuing the championship phase of the indoor season at "last chance" meets next weekend, the Saints contingent will attempt to punch tickets to the NCAA Championships in Birmingham, Alabama on March 13th and 14th.