BROOKINGS, SD – Led by strong days from both Jesse Kaas and Akil Howell, the University of Mary men's track & field team claimed a third place finish at the D2 Invite hosted by South Dakota State.
 
In a meet featuring over 22 teams, including ten from the Northern Sun, the Marauders posted 63.5 points to place third overall. Mount Marty won the D2 Invite men's title with 75 points, followed by Minnesota State (72). Next behind UMary was Dordt (55.5).
 
Racing for the first time during indoors this season, Jesse Kaas had an impressive day for the Marauders with a pair of Top 4 finishes. The junior earned second place in the 3000 meter run with a clocking of 8:47.91. The All-Conference runner also finished fourth in the mile with an effort of 4:20.32.
 
Kaas led a strong pack of Marauders in the 3K. Dawson Strom placed fourth in the event in a time of 8:53.44, just ahead of teammate Timothy Moore (8:55.13) in 5^th. Guillermo Fregoso placed 8^th for UMary (9:14.97).
 
Akil Howell fought through a plethora of competition to place third in the 60 meter dash. In a field of over 40 competitors, Howell posted a time of 6.98 seconds in the finals, his best mark of the day.
 
Howell also finished fifth in the 200 meter run after crossing the finish line in 22.33 seconds in a field of over 60 runners.
 
Alex Brown joined Kaas and Howell in placing in two different events. Brown took sixth in the triple jump (13.72 meters) and seventh in the long jump (6.53m).
 
ADDITIONAL TOP 8 MARAUDERS FINISHERS

• Isaac Watson was 4^th in the pole vault (4.45 meters) and Dillan Kovash was right behind in 5^th place (4.30m)
• Hayden Von Wald took 4^th in the long jump (6.89m)
• Isaac Huntington (1:22.19) and Sam Honeyman (1:22.63) finished 5-6 in the 600
• Brian Miller claimed 6^th in the 1000 meter run (2:38.65)
• Caleb Yokom took 6^th in the 5000 meter run (15:26.57)

 
The Marauders next compete January 28-29 at the University of North Dakota's Indoor Multi & Open in Grand Forks, ND.
 
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