HOBBS, N.M. – Bismarck State College sent three members of its new track and field teams to the NJCAA National Championships last week and all three returned home as All-Americans.
Freshmen Aanders Weltz of Bismarck and Bryn Hyttinen of Washburn became Bismarck State College’s second and third All-Americans in three days on Saturday by placing ihigh enough n the men’s and women’s javelin to earn the honors. They joined sophomore pole vaulter Cameron Aberle of Bismarck, who earned the school's first men's All-American honors for BSC since Ted Hausauer in 1974 on Thursdsay.
"I'm so incredibly proud of these athletes and my assistant coaches for all the work they put in this year," BSC head coach Jamison Dietrich said. "This has not been an easy first year with very difficult weather and start up challenges. These athletes and my coaches have made the best of it and performed their best when it mattered most. They embody what I am trying to build here and truly show Mystic Mentality!"
Weltz, who also competed in the discus on Friday, came into the meet with the sixth-best throw in the nation in javelin and unleashed a 53.64-meter (176-0) throw on his final attempt to move up to fifth place. He also had a throw of 52.58 meters (172-6).
Hyttinen had the 14th-best throw coming into the national meet and went into the finals in ninth place. The top nine athletes make the finals. She then threw a school-record 36.90 meters (124-4) before finishing with a second school-record 38.69 meters (126-11). Hyttinen is BSC’s first women’s track All-American since Monica Fedora in 1984.
Erbele took seventh with a vault of 4.37 meters (14-4) on his first attempt using a borroewed pole as his were broken in shipping. He came into the meet ranked 12th.
BSC reestablished its men’s and women’s track and field programs this season.
"I can honest say this national meet could not have gone better! Every athlete became an All-American and improved upon their ranking," Dietrich said.
Weltz Hyttinen Erbele
