2006 Men's Indoor Track & Field Preview

January 19, 2006
2006 St. Thomas Men's Track & Field
Head Coach: Steve Mathre (11th season)

Key Returnees:
--P.J. Theisen, JR, LJ-TJ-400 (3X relay All-American, 13 career top-5 MIAC placings)
--Peter Rosholt, SR, Throws (3X MIAC runner-up in hammer or weight throw)
--Cassidy Glad, SR, Sprints/Relays (3 relay All-American)
--Derek Marks, JR, Discus-Jumps (2005 MIAC discus champ)
--Matt Schroeder, JR, Pole Vault (Injured 2005; 2004 MIAC champ)
--Travis Birklid, JR, Hurdles (2005 MIAC indoor champ)

Season Preview:

St. Thomas won the 2005 MIAC men's indoor track & field title by a comfortable 78 points. The Toms scored in 18 of 20 events with points from 20 different athletes. The Toms swept all three relays, had six individual firsts and six seconds.

In the 21-year history of the event, the Tommie men have now won all 21 championships, and the UST women have won 18. The Tommie teams have swept men's and women's indoor titles for six consecutive seasons. The 21 titles broke an MIAC all-sport consecutive title record. The Tommies surpassed St. Olaf's 20-year men's swimming reign (1980-99) for longest conference champion run. The Toms' average winning margin in the 21-year streak is an amazing 85 points. They've won by 30 or more points and scored at least 179 points in 19 of the 21 indoor championships. UST has also won 20 of the last 23 MIAC outdoor team championships.

Coach Steve Mathre graduated 15 seniors including All-Americans Carson Glad, Joe Thomas and Jason Schwietz. But Mathre had potentially his best recruiting class. His roster of 60-plus athletes includes several football players, including starters P.J. Theisen, Peter Rosholt and Justin Nwadiashi.

More than 30 freshmen are on the preseason roster, and at least five are expected to contribute immediately -- James Ewer (Lakeville), who had a 23-6 long jump and was Minnesota state champion and also a threat in sprints and the triple jump; Ryan Chapman (Bloomington, Indiana), an outstanding long hurdler with effective range up to the 1500 meters; Zach Turner (Wayzata) second in Minnesota state high hurdles and a talented high jumper; Pat Jager (Tartan) a promising 400m runner; and Kyle Brandon (Winona Cotter), the Minnesota Class A mile champion.


All-Time MIAC Men's Indoor Track Team Winners
1985: UST, 180 pts. (won by 99-point margin)
1986: UST, 217 pts. (won by 134.5)
1987: UST, 134 pts. (won by 15)
1988: UST, 191.5 pts. (won by 88.5)
1989: UST, 208 pts. (won by 122)
1990: UST, 203.3 pts. (won by 110.3)
1991: UST, 216 pts. (won by 138.6)
1992: UST, 229 pts. (won by 110.5)
1993: UST, 247.5 pts. (won by 125.5)
1994: UST, 206.5 pts. (won by 105.5)
1995: UST, 179.5 pts. (won by 66.5)
1996: UST, 183.5 pts. (won by 73.5)
1997: UST, 187 pts. (won by 34)
1998: UST, 230 pts. (won by 127.5)
1999: UST, 185 pts. (won by 75.6)
2000: UST, 184 pts. (won by 75.5)
2001: UST, 158 pts. (won by 18)
2002: UST, 214 pts. (won by 81)
2003: UST, 182 pts. (won by 47.5)
2004: UST, 203.5 pts. (won by 77.5)
2005: UST, 191 pts. (won by 78)

see Coach Mathre's website here with links to schedule, roster, photos