SJU Track and Field started the indoor season last weekend with our annual Alumni meet. While we were able to host the meet outdoors last year, this is the first indoor alumni meet since 2020. It’s great to have everyone here and the 4x400m relay teams didn’t disappoint.
There was a good turnout of alumni competing and attending the reception. The alumni team was able to field an athlete in every event except long jump and hurdles. They did have a hurdler entered although Ryan Bromenschenkel (‘99) got sidetracked by a Tim Miles story and didn’t make it to the starting line. Maybe next time!
A few highlights from the alumni team:
The thrower alumni had a great showing winning both shot put and weight throw. After a few wild weight throws, Kai Barber (‘19) was able to control his old-man strength and win shot put. Gavin Rupp (‘22) had a big throw in the second round of the weight and was able to hold on for the win.
Steve Dalhed (‘05) used his experience to edge a couple of freshmen at the line to win his heat in the 400m dash.
The return of Jim Schoffman (‘75)! He has been a staple of our alumni meet and it is great to have him back competing in multiple events!
The Alumni put together a strong 4x400m relay team. The young distance team did their best to hold off the alumni by using a giant stuffed sloth as a baton. The large baton slung over their shoulders forced the alumni into lane three to pass. Ultimately, the young distance guys succumbed to the weight of the sloth and the smarter baton choice of the alumni proved successful.
As for the current team, our returners are a little rusty and our new athletes are, well, new. There are a lot of new faces this year and I am excited to see how they develop. We will have a better prognosis for the season after the next two meets.
The team will be competing at the University of Minnesota on Saturday, February 4th and we will be back at Saint John’s Saturday, February 11th. I hope to see some of you there as we will be breaking out our new uniforms for the home meet. A special thanks to everyone who donated for the new uniforms. Will the Johnnies still rock the baby blue singlet and red shorts? Be there to find out!
Jeremy