Good showings for Men's Track in San Diego

March 21, 2004
The St. Thomas men's track and field team had more than a dozen athletes compete in Saturday's Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State University. The Competition included several Division I and club teams.

Tommie freshman P.J. Theisen hit an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles in a fourth-place finish. Theisen, an All-American indoors on the Toms' runner-up 4x400 relay, clocked 53.45, just under the provisional time of 54.00 and off the automatic qualifying time of 52.20. Theisen also placed ninth in the long jump (20-1 1-2).

Senior Ben Garbe was fifth in the triple jump in 46-0 1-2 -- just three inches off the NCAA provisional mark. Senior Joe Thomas was third in the high jump in 6-6 3-4 -- just off the provisional mark of 6-7, and also sixth in the triple jump (44-0). Senior Matt McLaughlin was ninth in the hammer (139-6), 10th in the shot put (46-0) and 15th in the discus (132-6). Junior Dave Diercks was sixth in the javelin (165-8).

Junior Carson Glad was eighth in the 200 meters (22.29) and 29th in the 100 (11.59).

Other top-20 placers for Tommies were Jason Simmons, fifth in the 110 hurdles (16.14); Chris Mattke, eighth in the 400 hurdles (55.25) and 10th in the 110 hurdles (16.63); Jason Schwietz, seventh in the 400 dash (49.58); Matt Schroeder, 11th in the pole vault (14-8 1-4); Mike Draxton, eighth in the high jump (6-0 3-4); Jeremy Krentz and Tom Hart, both 15th in the 100 (11.34); Travis Birklid, 16th in the 100 hurdles (17.07); Nick Schleder, 16th in the 400 hurdles (57.25); Peter Rosholt was 11th in the hammer (131-5) and 17th in the discus (127-3); and Steve Rajewsky was 17th in the 400 meters (51.68).

The Tommies will begin their midwest outdoor season April 3 at Luther's Norse Relays in Decorah, Ia.

see complete meet results here