Men's Track & Field 3k Steeplechase
Steve Woltmann Photography

Men's Track and Field

North Central Kicks Off Outdoor Season with Impressive Results

Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate DIrector of Athletifcs Communications, 630-637-5302

March 27-28, 2026 - The North Central College men's track and field team opened the 2026 outdoor season with an impressive weekend split between the WashU Distance Carnival in St. Louis, Missouri, and competition at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, highlighted by standout distance performances, relay victories, and multiple top-10 finishes across the board.

A small group of eight distance runners traveled to St. Louis for the WashU Distance Carnival on March 27, where BJ Sorg delivered a headline performance in the 10,000 meters. A second-team All-American in the event last season, Sorg placed fifth overall while clocking a personal-best 29:23.88, a mark that ranks sixth in program history and fourth in NCAA Division III early in the outdoor season. Several Cardinals joined him in posting personal bests, including Jacob Kluckhohn in the 5,000m (14:47.50), and 10,000m runners Ari Elmayan (30:39.59), Daniel Kasperan (30:40.50), and Koen McMillan (31:46.81).

Back home on Friday night, North Central recorded 11 top-10 finishes across distance and throwing events. In the hammer throw, Gavin McAlister placed second with a personal-best mark of 47.80m (156'10"), moving him to 10th all-time in program history. Riley Adams followed in third at 46.21m (151'7"), while Braunsen Bax took seventh with a throw of 42.74m (140'3"). On the track, Tyler Shick finished runner-up in the 5,000m (15:16.46), while Owen Dare matched that placement in the 1,500m (4:03.37). Jack Galminas (5th, 4:06.23) and Anthony Eddy (8th, 4:08.30) also scored in the 1,500m, and Rylan Deichen added a sixth-place finish in the 10,000m (32:46.56). 

The Cardinals dominated the 3,000m steeplechase by sweeping places three through five, led by Richard Klein in third (9:55.09), followed by Austin Wesley in fourth (10:00.92), while Noah Gilbert and David Hornaday tied for fifth at 10:02.13.

Saturday's action began with a victory in the 4x100m relay, as Danny Eloe, Randy Reed, Zach Anderson, and Alexander Knight combined to run 41.80 seconds. Christian Kokot added a runner-up finish in the 110m hurdles (15.46) and later placed sixth in the 400m hurdles (1:00.92), leading a tight group that included Grant Bond (7th, 1:00.96), Giovanny Hernandez (8th, 1:01.05), and Luke Moran (9th, 1:02.04). In the 400m , Zach Anderson claimed first place in 50.67 seconds, while Alex Moos took third in 50.86. The Fladeland brothers also contributed in the 200 meters, with Aiden placing seventh (22.64) and Ebin tying for ninth (22.71).

In the field events, Jayden Leise won the triple jump with a mark of 14.36m (47'1.50"), while Brandon Woods (5th, 13.33m) and Kevin Fist (10th, 12.92m) also placed in the top 10. Woods added a runner-up finish in the long jump with a leap of 6.64m (21'9.5"), his first jump of the day, while Leise placed fourth (6.45m) and Luke Hemmersmeier was fifth (6.43m, 21'1.25"). Isaiah Shepard cleared 1.80m (5'10.75") to finish seventh in the high jump.

In the throws, Ben Balboa recorded a pair of runner-up finishes, taking second in the discus with a 48.12m throw (157'10.25"), good for sixth-best in program history, and again in the shot put with a 14.49m mark (47'6.50") on his final throw of the day. Daniel Dominguez placed third in the shot put (14.31m, 46'11.50") and sixth in the discus (42.75m, 140'3"), while Riley Adams added a fourth-place discus finish (43.12m, 141'6"). Josh Friedland (13.70m, 44'11.50") and Gavin McAlister (13.10m, 42'11.50") also scored in the shot put, finishing seventh and 10th, respectively. 

In the men's javelin, Anthony Cristiano finished fifth with a 45.04m (147'9") with Jacob Ahlberg finishing seventh with a 42.37m (139'0") throw. 

Bobby Guethoff won his first collegiate pole vault competition with a personal best clearance of 4.40m (14'5.25") with teammates Gabe Parker (4.40m, 14'5.25") and Ahlberg (4.25m, 13'11.25") finishing second and third, respectively. 

The 4x400m relay team of Randy Reed, Zach Anderson, Alex Moos, and Alexander Knight placed second in 3:29.59, and Dakota White led the 800m runners with a third-place finish (1:56.12), followed by Drew Patterson in fifth (1:57.12).

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday, March 31, as they head to the Wheaton College Invitational. The invite was originally slated for Thursday in Wheaton, Ill., but has been moved up two days due to weather. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Jacob Ahlberg

Jacob Ahlberg

Multi-Events
Senior
Zach Anderson

Zach Anderson

Sprints
Sophomore
Ben Balboa

Ben Balboa

Throws
Sophomore
Anthony Cristiano

Anthony Cristiano

Throws
Sophomore
Owen Dare

Owen Dare

Distance
Junior
Daniel Dominguez

Daniel Dominguez

Throws
Junior
Danny Eloe

Danny Eloe

Sprints
Sophomore
Kevin Fist

Kevin Fist

Jumps
Sophomore
Josh Friedland

Josh Friedland

Throws
Junior
Luke Hemmersmeier

Luke Hemmersmeier

Jumps
Sophomore
Jayden Leise

Jayden Leise

Jumps
Sophomore
Gavin McAlister

Gavin McAlister

Throws
Junior

Players Mentioned

Jacob Ahlberg

Jacob Ahlberg

Senior
Multi-Events
Zach Anderson

Zach Anderson

Sophomore
Sprints
Ben Balboa

Ben Balboa

Sophomore
Throws
Anthony Cristiano

Anthony Cristiano

Sophomore
Throws
Owen Dare

Owen Dare

Junior
Distance
Daniel Dominguez

Daniel Dominguez

Junior
Throws
Danny Eloe

Danny Eloe

Sophomore
Sprints
Kevin Fist

Kevin Fist

Sophomore
Jumps
Josh Friedland

Josh Friedland

Junior
Throws
Luke Hemmersmeier

Luke Hemmersmeier

Sophomore
Jumps
Jayden Leise

Jayden Leise

Sophomore
Jumps
Gavin McAlister

Gavin McAlister

Junior
Throws