Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

WAVERLY, Iowa (Feb. 20, 2021) – Highlighted by the 4-by-400-meter relay team racing to the top of the NCAA Division III leader board and multiple student-athletes etching their names into the program record book, the No. 4 Loras College men's track and field team celebrated a true team performance to remain undefeated in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) action after winning the Liz Wuertz Invite, hosted by No. 1 Wartburg College, on Saturday.

Josh Smith won the 200-meter dash with a season-best time of 22.13 seconds, ranking third nationally, while Shamari Scott added a fourth-place finish with a personal best time of 22.91. Smith also won the 60-meter dash, tying his season-best time of 6.88, and Mike Jasa remains undefeated in the 800-meter dash, winning the event with a time of 1:52.91. Ted Kruse finished second in the 400-meter dash, running a personal-best time of 50.65.

In the 5,000-meter run, the Duhawks celebrated a top-ten time for Luke Guttormson, making his way into Loras' all-time list with a time of 15:14.57 and a third-place finish. Ryan Harvey positioned himself in the top-ten as well in the 3,000-meter run, winning the event in a time of 8:42.04 which ranks seventh. The 4-by-400-meter relay team of Smith, Scott, Jasa and Carter Oberfoell served as the grand finale for the Duhawks' day, winning the event with the fourth fastest time in program history and nation-leading mark of 3:17.74.

In the field events, Alex Martens and Matt Bandy added a first and second place finish, respectively, with jumps of 1.86 meters in the high jump while Ryan Rogers won the long jump (6.89 meters) and posted some of the program's best marks in the pole vault and 60-meter hurdles. He cleared 4.88 meters in the pole vault and clocked a time of 8.17 in the hurdles, ranking second for Loras and fourth nationally in both events. Derik Bunten was the top finisher for the Duhawks in the triple jump with a leap of 12.92 meters, placing second, and Theo Davis added a third-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 12.87 meters.

The Duhawks won the meet with 130 points edging No. 1 Wartburg by 25 points and Nebraska Wesleyan University finished third with a total of 90.

Loras concludes regular season action on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Central College, competing against the Dutch and Buena Vista University. Events begin at noon at the H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse in Pella, Iowa.