VERMILLION, SD – Despite breezy conditions at the USD Early Bird, the University of Mary men's track & field team generated many impressive performances in the Marauders second outdoor meet of the spring.
 
Dawson Strom continued his impressive outdoor season with a strong showing in the 5000 meter run. The senior from Moorhead, MN, placed third in the 5K with a time of 15:08.75 in a field of 47 runners. He set personal bests the week before in the 800 and the 1500.
 
The UMary 4x100 meter relay team of Brendon Hoyte, Nathan Bender, Akil Howell and Raheem Taitt-Best burned up the track in 41.89 seconds to finish 4^th. The Marauders were second among NCAA Division II teams.
 
The Marauders had a big day in the javelin with three top 10 finishes. Freshman Cameron Brusven finished 5^th (52.99 meters), just ahead of senior Dillan Kovash (52.12), who finished 6^th. Competing in the javelin for just the second time Vaughn Deinhart placed 10^th (47.21).
 
In his first outdoor meet of the season, Raheem Taitt-Best ran the 400 meter dash in just 48.87 seconds to claim 6^th place in a deep pool of runners.
 
Aleix Garbajosa placed 7^th in the 800 meter run, finishing the event in 1:53.86.
 
Several Marauders posted top 20 finishes at the competitive USD Early Bird:

• Brian Miller placed 12^th in the 3000 meter steeplechase (10:06.34)
• Dillan Kovash was 12^th in the pole vault (4.31 meters)
• Guillermo Fregoso claimed 14^th in the 5000 (15:51.93)
• Running the 200 in a personal best clocking of 21.79 seconds, Akil Howell placed 14^th. He finished 19^th in the 400 meter hurdles (58.15 seconds).
• Brendon Hoyte also set a personal best in the 200 with a time of 21.83 seconds but it is considered wind-aided. He finished 16^th in the event.

 
The Marauders now have a busy week with competitions as four different meets, including three in California (Long Beach Invite, Bryan Clay Invite and Mt. SAC Relays April 12-15) and the Dickinson State Blue Hawk on April 14.
 
#marauders#