Roberts and Gortmaker Compete for DSU in Day One of NSAA Championships

Caleb Roberts- Dakota State University

Two Dakota State athletes competed in the men’s decathlon yesterday afternoon, kicking off the first day of the three-day NSAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The day kicked off with the 100-meter dash, where Caleb Roberts claimed the top time with a personal best 11.63 seconds for 725 points. Caden Gortmaker finished with a time of 12.54 points to secure 549 points.

Both Roberts and Gortmaker produced personal records in the long jump, as Roberts had a leap of 19 feet, 11 inches, tallying 602 points, and Gortmaker posted a jump of 19 feet, 9 inches to gain 591 points.

The third decathlon event was the shot put, led by Roberts with a career best toss of 32 feet, 5.75 inches for 480 points. Gortmaker hit a shot-put toss of 28 feet, 9 inches for 411 points.

Gortmaker led DSU with the second-best high jump mark of 6 feet, .5 inches, claiming 661 points. Roberts cleared the height of 4 feet, 11.5 inches for 396 points.

The decathlon wrapped up with the 400-meter dash, led by Roberts with the top time in the race of 53.71 seconds, which was his personal best time. He earned 652 points from the 400-meters. Gortmaker clocked a personal record time of 56.01 seconds to collect 559 points.

Zach Morel of Waldorf holds the decathlon lead after the first day in a tight race with Tyce Dahlberg of Dickinson State. Morel scored 3,281 points to hold the top spot in the decathlon, followed by Dahlberg with 3,264 points to place second.

Roberts is fourth in the standings after scoring 2,855 points after the first day. Gortmaker followed up with fifth place in the standings with 2,771 points.

Five more events remain in the decathlon today, starting at 11am with the 110-meter hurdles. The decathlon continues with the discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and concludes with the grueling 1500-meter run.

The NSAA Championships will be in full swing with the running and field events on the second day, this afternoon at 4pm. The sprint running prelims, long distance running events, and throwing events will be held.