STORM LAKE, Iowa (Feb. 23, 2023) – Things keep trending upward for the No. 4 Loras College men's track and field team as the Duhawks outpaced rest of the field at the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend to claim their second straight team title.

The Duhawks got 14 all-conference performances from their squad that includes a dominating three wins in three tries in the relay races and seven event victories overall.

Senior Mike Jasa led the way for the Duhawks as he never entered a race that he didn't win on Friday and Saturday. Jasa won the 800-meter race for the third season in a row on Saturday as he clocked a 1:50.49 to set a new championship record. He was also a member of two of Loras' three race-winning relay teams as he contributed to wins for the 4x800-meter and distance medley relay squads.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Jasa, Carter Oberfoell, Chris Guise, and Elliot Frideres clocked a 7:45.46 to set a new championship record and a new Loras program record.

Freshman Matt Kruse joined Jasa with multiple first-place finishes over the weekend as he took top spots in the 400-meters and helped the 4x400-meter relay team to a win. Kruse's 400-meter time of 48.32 moved him to second all-time in Loras history and to third in Division III this season.

Loras got two other wins from individuals over the weekend as Josh Smith won the 60-meter dash and Ray Venditti took first in the pole vault. Smith's win in the 60-meters was his third straight in the conference championships while Venditti lead the pole vault leaderboard with a best clearance of 4.51 meters. He also set a new career-high with a 2.01-meter clearance as he finished second in the high jump.

A full list of Loras' all-conference selections is below. The Duhawks have two last chance meets on their schedule next weekend as they get a final chance to improve on any nationally ranked marks heading into the NCAA National Championships on March 10-11.

Loras All-Conference Selections:

Mike Jasa
800m – 1^st
4x800m Relay – 1^st
DMR – 1^st

Josh Smith
60m – 1^st
200m – 2nd

Matt Kruse
400m – 1^st
4x400m Relay – 1^st

Wyatt Kelly
DMR – 1^st
Mile – 2^nd

Ryan Harvey
DMR – 1^st
Mile – 3^rd
3000m – 3^rd

Ray Venditti
Pole Vault – 1^st
High Jump – 2^nd

Ted Kruse
4x400m Relay – 1^st

Matthew Marcum
4x400m Relay – 1^st

Will Kieffer
4x400m Relay – 1^st

Carter Oberfoell
4x800m Relay – 1^st

Chris Guise
4x800m Relay – 1^st

Elliot Frideres
4x800m Relay – 1^st

Easton Stackis
DMR – 1^st

Derik Bunten
60m – 2^nd
Long Jump – 2^nd

Holden Murphy
Weight Throw – 2^nd

Neal Eckhoff
Weight Throw – 3^rd