GRINNELL, Iowa (Blugolds.com) – After day one of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Nationals Championships, the Blugold men hold the top spot with 23 points, led by Josh Thorson's (Sr.-Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) national championship in the 5,000-meter run.
Thorson earned title in the 5,000-meter with a time of 14:16.46. Darin Lau (So.-Eau Claire, WI/Immanuel) also placed ninth in the event, clocking in at 14:39.91.
The Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team of Steven Schimmel (Sr.-Stewartville, MN), Jake Pientok (Jr.-Whitehall, WI), Ryan Graham (Jr.-Maple Grove, MN) and Nick Petersson (Sr.-Brookfield, MN) came in second, finishing with a time of 10:02.47.
Alex Mess (Sr.-Lake Mills, WI/Green Bay Notre Dame) took fourth in the shot put with a toss of 18.77 meters.
On the women's side, Sam Anderson (Jr.-Forest Lake, MN) placed fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 17.59 meters (57-8.50) to earn five points for the Blugolds.
The Blugolds will complete in the final day of the championships on Saturday, March 12 as they look to win their second-straight men's indoor title.