Track and Field: 4 area athletes compete during collegiate indoor season

Four area athletes competed for college teams during the indoor track and field season.

Park Rapids’ Kolby Brandt competed in the middle distance events for Minnesota State University Moorhead, Menahga’s Annika Aho competed in the middle distance events for the University of Sioux Falls, Park Rapids’ Nathaniel Bervig competed in the distance events for Dordt College and Park Rapids’ Hannah Morgan competed in the long jump for Southwest Minnesota State University.

Brandt capped off his sophomore indoor season by competing at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference meet at Mankato on Feb. 25-26.

Brandt finished 23rd out of 24 runners in the 600 with a time of 1:31.19. MSUM finished third in the team standings with 126 points. Minnesota State University Mankato topped the 11-team men’s field with 200.16 points and Augustana was second with 135 points.

In the season opener, Brandt finished fifth out of six runners in the 600 in 1:30.54 at the Dakota Classic at Fargo on Dec. 3 and placed fourth out of four runners in the 800 in 2:10.06 at the Concordia College Open at Moorhead on Jan. 22.

At the University of North Dakota Open at Grand Forks on Jan. 28-29, Brandt finished sixth out of eight runners in the 600 in 1:29.41 and finished 20th out of 22 runners in the 800 in 2:13.39 at the North Dakota State University Bison Open at Fargo on Feb. 4-5.

At the South Dakota State University Indoor Classic at Brookings on Feb. 11-12, Brandt was 21st out of 28 runners in the 600 in 1:30.16 and topped a five-runner field with a 1:26.81 in the 600 at the UND Tune-Up on Feb. 19.

The Dragons compete at the NCAA Division II level.

Aho concluded her junior indoor season by competing at the NSIC Championships.

Aho finished 11th out of 14 runners in the 800 in 2:23.47 as Sioux Falls finished sixth in the team standings with 37 points. Mankato claimed the women’s team title with 243 points in this 15-team meet with University Mary (115), Augustana (106.33), Winona State (63) and Minnesota Duluth (41) following.

At the season-opening Mount Marty Open at Yankton, South Dakota, on Jan. 15, Aho was the runner-up out of five runners in the 1,000 in 3:11.01 and led off the 4 x 400 relay team that placed third out of seven teams with a 4:15.99. Aho also ran on the 4 x 400 relay team that placed 10th out of 23 teams in 4:14.60 at the South Dakota State University Division II Open at Brookings on Jan. 21.

At the South Dakota State University Last Chance Invitational on Feb. 19, Aho was fifth out of 10 runners in the 800 in 2:20.84 and followed by placing third out of seven runners in the 1,000 in 3:08.25. Aho also ran on the 4 x 400 relay that clocked a 4:13.50 to finish seventh out of nine teams at the NSIC & Friends Indoor Challenge at Mankato on Feb. 12.

Aho ran on the 4 x 800 relay that clocked a 9:28.09 for third place out of four teams at the SDSU Indoor Classic on Feb. 11-12 and placed 12th out of 65 runners in the 800 in 2:21.59 at the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat Invitational at Maryville on Feb. 4-5.

The Cougars compete at the NCAA Division II level.

Bervig competed in four indoor meets as a freshman for the Defenders.

At the Mount Marty Invitational at Yankton on Dec. 28-29, Bervig finished 15th out of 22 runners in the 1,000 in 2;47.76 and placed 25th out of 33 runners in the mile in 4:52.12 at the University of South Dakota Invitational at Vermillion on Feb. 5.

Bervig took ninth out of 13 runners in the 1,000 in 2:43.55 at the South Dakota State University Indoor Classic at Brookings on Feb. 11-12 before ending the indoor season by placing 14th in the 16-runner field in the 1,000 in 2:46.17 at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships at Crete, Nebraska, on Feb. 18-19. Dordt was the runner-up at the conference meet with 177 points, trailing only Doane University’s 198 points in the 11-team men’s field.

Dordt College (located in Sioux Center, Iowa) competes at the NAIA level.

Morgan competed in four indoor events in her collegiate debut for the Mustangs.

In the season opener on Dec. 3-4, Morgan placed 12th out of 31 competitors in the long jump with a distance of 16 feet, 5.75 inches at the SDSU Holiday Open at Brookings. Morgan also competed in the 60 dash, finishing 20th out of 37 runners in 8.39.

Morgan took 20th out of 38 competitors in the long jump with a distance of 15-9.5 at the SDSU Division II Invitational at Brookings on Jan. 21 and followed by tying for 17th place out of 34 competitors in the long jump with a distance of 15-11 at the Mark Schuck Open at Mankato on Jan. 28-29.

At the NSIC & Friends Indoor Challenge at Mankato on Feb. 12, Morgan placed 14th in the 22-member field in the long jump with a distance of 16-2.25 and closed out the indoor season by placing 11th out of 15 competitors in the long jump with a leap of 15-9.50 at the SDSU Last Chance Invitational on Feb. 19.

SMSU, located in Marshall, competes at the NCAA Division II level.