Undeterred Solheim Leads At SJU
Senior Nick Solheim held off teammate David Supinski to win the 1000 meters and help Concordia to a third-place finish at the St. John's Invite.
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. (2/10/18)--- Nick Solheim will not be deterred in his senior season – even when a three-time school record holder decides to compete in his event for the day.
Solheim overcame teammate David Supinski in the final lap of the 1000 meters and went on to edge Supinski by .13 of a second.
Solheim was one of two Cobbers to win an event at the St. John's Invitational and help Concordia to a third-place finish at the 9-team meet.
"It was a fun race to watch unfold," head coach Garrick Larson said. "Nick (Solheim) had more in the tank down the stretch and was able to hold off David (Supinski) who wanted another record."
Solheim has been one of the success stories for the Cobber track athletes this season. He has posted several personal best marks this indoor campaign and his winning time in the 1000 meters (2:36.34) is the eighth fastest in the conference this season. Solheim also owns Top 20 MIAC times in the 800 meters and the mile.
Supinski's day was limited to the 1000 meters as he tries to get the proper rest heading into the MIAC Meet in two weeks. His finishing time of 2:36.47 is a personal best and the ninth fastest in the conference. Supinski now owns Top 10 marks in the MIAC in the 400,600 and 1000 meters.
Senior Eli Beachy was the other event winner in Collegeville. He cleared 14-06.25 and won the pole vault competition by almost six inches. Beachy also took three shots at breaking his own school record of 15-01.50 but came up just short all three times. Beachy's season best of 14-11.00 is third best in the conference this year.
A pair of Cobber athletes recorded school Top 5 marks on the day. Sophomore Matt Bye was finally able to break his own personal barrier of 8.77 in the 60-meter hurdles and placed second in the event with a personal best time of 8.74. His finishing time is the fourth fastest in school history and No.6 in the MIAC this year.
Senior Adam Frazier continued his rollercoaster season in the throwing events by heaving the weight a career best distance of 51-06.25. That distance is the fourth farthest in program history and puts him in eighth place in the league heading into the conference meet. Frazier was also fourth in the shot put at the meet with a top distance of 45-00/25.
Eric Wicklund jumped into the Cobber all-time Top 10 in the 5,000 meters. He ran a 15:52.33 which is the fastest of his career and 10th best in Concordia history. He also moves into the Top 15 of the MIAC this season with that time.
Jake Probst had the only other Top 3 finish for a Concordia athlete at the meet. He was second in the triple jump with a career best distance of 41-05.75. The second-place distance moves him into the No.12 spot in the conference this year.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Cobbers will head up Hwy. 29 to compete in Grand Forks in the UND Meet on Saturday, Feb. 17. That will be the last chance to qualify for the conference meet which takes place on Feb. 23-24 at Macalester.
COBBER NOTABLES:
St. John's Invite, February 10, 2018
Cobber All-Time Top 25
60 - Tom Whiting, 7.40, #19
60HH - Matt Bye, 8.74, #4
1000 - Nick Solheim, 2:36.34, #20
1000 - David Supinski, 2:36.47, #21
5k - Eric Wicklund, 15:52.33, #10
5k - Erik Larson, 16:15.81, #19
5k - Noah Kneeskern, 16:30.36, #23
WT - Adam Frazier, 15.70 (51-6.25), #4
WT - Ben Schelske, 12.29 (40-4), #22
Personal Bests
60 - Nick Steinhofer, 7.81; Tom Whiting, 7.40
200 - Tom Whiting, 23.99; Wyatt Lautt, 24.04
400 - Martin Moore, 53.21; Logan Heinecke, 56.58
1000 - Nick Solheim, 2:36.34; David Supinski, 2:36.47; Connor Haugrud, 2:43.88
Mile - Olsen Pancoast, 4:56.04; Tom Froland, 5:14.45
5k - Eric Wicklund, 15:52.33; Erik Larson, 16:15.81; Noah Kneeskern, 16:30.36
60HH - Matt Bye, 8.74
LJ - Jake LePard, 5.77 (18-11.25)
TJ - Jake Probst, 12.64 (41-5.75)
SP - Matt Bye, 10.69 (35-1); Ben Schelske, 12.16 (39-10.75); Carson Tunheim, 11.31 (37-1.25)
WT - Kevin Wolfe, 11.68 (38-4); Carson Tunheim, 10.18 (33-4.75); Hunter Berggren, 10.03 (32-11); Ben Schelske, 12.29 (40-4); Adam Frazier, 15.70 (51-6.25)