Northwestern College announces Kalvelage Highlights NAIA Meet with All-American Honors
MARION, Ind. – The track and field season came to a close this weekend with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Track and Field National Championship on May 24-26. The men's side was highlighted on Day 2 by Braden Kalvelage who would ultimately finish in 4th place in the Long Jump, repeating his All-American status again from the Indoor Championships. Day 2 also hosted the men's 4x400m relay, and Day 1 was kick-started by the men's 4x100m relay, Ben Thelander in the Javelin, and Joseph Kunert in the 3000m Steeplechase.
The championships began on Wednesday with Thelander (Jr., Lawton, Iowa) in the Javelin. The warm weather gave him the confidence to try a full-runway approach, as he earlier was only going from a few steps. A delayed start from the officials would throw off his rhythm, making his first throw a 46.10m or 151'3" toss. Not letting it get to him and finding his feet under him, Thelander would better his mark on his second throw to 52.10m or 170' 11". Getting his confidence back, and with one more throw on the line, he would improve his competition mark yet again to 52.94m or 173' 8". His final place was 24th.
At the same time the javelin was being contested, the men's 4x100m relay would be on the track. Back from their Conference Title and re-breaking of the school record, with potential All-American status on the line, nerves and adrenaline were high. Grant Palmer starting would run the curve to the first exchange. Cody Post waiting on the second leg would move only the slightest amount in the actual exchange zone, but the pair would get the baton through the zone without any problems. Post (Sr., Rock Valley, Iowa) then flying through his 100m leg reached the 2nd exhange where Braden Jahn was waiting, the team currently in 2nd place in the heat. A flawless exchange would put the team, and now Jahn (Sr., Sioux Center, Iowa), in first place on the third 100m, going into the final exchange. Seeing the speed of Jahn, and nerves being high would get the better of Ashton Sandbulte waiting on the anchor leg in the third exchange zone. A couple tenths of a second is all it took for Sandbulte (Fr., Beaver Creek, Minn.) to leave early. Jahn would save the exchange through a full-out, forward diving reach to get the baton to Sandbulte, just barely enough to get it into Sandbulte's hand before he hit the ground hard. Sandbulte now with baton in hand, but acceleration patter and rhythm messed up, would do his best on the finishing 100m, ultimately finishing in 3rd place in the heat. The Raiders would finish their final time in 41.36 seconds in 25th place overall.
Ending day 1 competition for the Raider Men was senior Joseph Kunert. Arguably the most impressive feat from the Raiders of the whole weekend, Kunert (Sr., Humboldt, Iowa) would run his entire 3000m Steeplechase competition on a potential stress fracture of his lower left leg. Solid through the first 400m of the run, the pain, as well as the guts would hit Kunert on his first water barrier. Landing on his bad leg, he would buckle and grimace as he kept on running. Each subsequent water barrier would be be a two foot landing to help alleviate some of the impact, but would also lead to a full stop every time he jumped and landed, costing him serious time. Being a fighter through and through, he would keep on going through the pain refusing to give up and making it all the way through the finish line without stopping. Kunert would finish in 27th place, in 10:09.89.
Thursday, Day 2 of competition was the highlight of the men's team where Braden Kalvelage would repeat his All-American status from indoor nationals in March where he finished 5th. On the chilly day, and fighting a cross wind, Kalvelage (So., Hastings, Neb.) would leap to 7.20m, or 23' 7", on his first jump, sitting him 10th in the competition, with only 9 making the final round. Attempting to adjust his step he would jump to 7.07m on his second, now having dropped to 11th in the competition. Putting all he had on his third and final attempt of the opening round, Kalvelage would leap to a 7.42m or 24' 4.25" jump, pushing him to 4th place in the competition an guaranteeing him three more attempts. Coming back from prelims into the final round, he would jump 7.06m on his fourth jump of the competition. Trying to push the envelope and leave no doubts in his mind, unfortunately would cause him to foul his final 2 attempts. Kalvelage would finish in 4th place with his best jump being 7.42m or 24' 4.25".
The final competition for the Raider men was the 4x400m relay prelims on Thursday evening. Starting in the blocks for the last time this season, Jahn was back from the 4x100m the previous day and ready to go. Running possibly his fastest split ever of his life, he would reverse the 4x100m handoff order and this time hand off to Post, also back from the 4x100m. Senior Cody Post, would make his last race one for the books as he would definitively run his best 400m leg of his life, taking Jahn's leg and capitalizing on it. Post, receiving the baton in 5th, would make up a ton of ground to put the team in a narrow 4th place as he ran to the exchange zone. Senior Mitch Oostra, waiting for Post would follow his teammates lead and would make his last race his best one. Oostra (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.), in the final 70m would put the team in a close 3rd place, one spot away from a guaranteed finals. Waiting at anchor was Trey Engelmann. Engelmann (So., Storm Lake, Iowa), suffering an injured hamstring a week before, did all he could for the team to run his best and leave it all out on the track. Unfortunately it wouldn't be enough as he would get out-leaned at the line, and the team would finish in 5th place in the heat. The men would finish in 3:17.08, 10th overall by time, but due to technicalities in the other heats, the team would finish 11th overall, just barely missing the 9th spot that makes finals.
Raider Final Results
4x100m Relay: Grant Palmer, Cody Post, Braden Jahn, Ashton Sandbulte
- 41.39 – 25th place
Ben Thelander: Javelin
- 52.94m – 24th place
Braden Kalvelage: Long Jump
- 7.42m – 4th place
4x400m Relay: Braden Jahn, Cody Post, Mitch Oostra, Trey Engelmann
- 3:17.08 – 10th Place
Up Next: The 2022-23 season concludes at the NAIA Championships.
Original source can be found here.