Nelson, 4x400m Relay Win NCAA Titles

RESULTS

GENEVA, Ohio – The Bethel Royals earned two national titles – one from Grant Nelson in the 400m dash, and 4x400m relay. 

Nelson won his first individual national title as he ran down John Carroll’s Barsheer Alharami in the final 80m and held off UW-LaCrosse’s Collin Conzemius to win in a time of 46.678 seconds. Conzemius was 2nd in 46.680, Alharami was 3rd in 46.80, and Bethel’s Jacob Parent was 4th in 47.01.

The 4x400m relay team of Jacob Parent, Josh Thomsen, Victor Lelinga, and Grant Nelson earned the Royal’s back-to-back  national titles in the event, this time, in a Division III record time of 3:06.52. Parent got out to a strong start and handed off to Thomsen in the lead. Thomsen battled with UW-LaCrosse’s Andrew Hackbarth through leg 2, and closed hard to hand off in the lead. Victor Lelinga had the fastest split of his life (46.84) to hold onto the lead into the final exchange. Grant Nelson once again held off UW-LaCrosse’s Collin Conzemius with the best split of the race, 45.34 seconds to give the Royals the title.

Jayson Ekiyor wrapped up his Bethel career with a 4th place finish in the 110H. Ekiyor hit hurdle 2 in the 110H, but managed to work his way through the field and into 4th with his time of 14.24. Ekiyor also placed 9th in the 400H with his time of 53.35.

Kelsie Sealock added two more All-Americans to her trophy case as she totalled 15 All-Americans in her career. Sealock placed 4th in the 100H with a time of 13.90 seconds, and 8th in the 400H with a time of 62.01.

Shalom Sulungaine made Bethel history, becoming the 1st Royal to earn All-American status in the women’s outdoor 400m dash. Sulungaine ran a program record 54.69 seconds to place 8th.

Anna Speratos ended her season with a top-10 finish in the hammer throw. Speratos had the 2nd best mark of her career with 52.00m / 170’7″, placing her 10th overall.