Brookings, SD - The men's track and field team began competition today on Day 1 of the NAIA Championships at the Jackrabbit Athletic Complex. The Saints saw action in four events and walked away with one relay advancing, while also setting a school record with another relay.
 
The only men's relay to advance to finals today was the 4 x 800 squad of Rob Lohr, Zander Masten, Caleb Hodgkinson, and Will Finch. The quartet competed in the first heat of the event and placed third behind Grace (7:38.59) and Marian (7:39.16) with a time of 7:40.10. They then advanced after having the fastest time outside of the top two finishers from the three heats. AQ will enter tomorrow's final seeded seventh but having the fourth fastest time in prelims. This team now ranks fourth in all time AQ history besting a quartet of Saints from 2018 that ran 7:41 and another team that ran 7:42 in 2002.
 
Next the men's 4x400 Relay was on the track next competing in the third heat. The team of Jacob Tenbusch, Nathan Iacona, Cyrus Prudhomme, and Hodgkinson placed fourth in their heat with a time of 3:15.96. The Saints were unable to qualify for the final on time, but the Saints still made history posting a school record in the event. They best the time of 3:16.77 set by Ray Bordeaux, Eric Reed, Jason Parnell, and Caleb Teachout in 2013.
 
The final relay of the day came in the Distance Medley Relay. Will Finch, Jake Van Tassell, Liam Kelly, and Connor Clemens ran a time of 10:19 in the third heat. The squad was unable to qualify for the events final.
 
Finally, in the first men's 5K Connor Callahan finished 12th in his heat and 22nd overall. Callahan finished with a time of 15:19 and did not advance to finals.
 
The Saints return to action tomorrow for more prelims and the 4x800 and long jump final. AQ's first event will be the long jump at 1:00 PM with Jesunifemi Ojutalayo in action.