Amber Dunham and Ira Autrey threw and jumped to national qualifying marks and a total of 27 personal or season's best marks showed the Swedes' track and field teams' progress at the Bethel Invitational on Saturday, April 25.

The Bethel meet was a final tuneup before the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in McPherson on May 1 and 2.

Dunham qualified in both the shot put and javelin by heaving the shot 13.77m (45' 2 1/4") and throwing the javelin 39.95m (131' 1"). Dunham is the third Swede to qualify in the shot put joining Jessica Becker and Mollie Dahl. On his final attempt in the triple jump, Autrey added to an already creditable series by sailing to a 14.03m (46' 1/2"). Autrey had previously earned a spot at nationals in the long jump.

Two relays were on the track for the first time in the outdoor season with solid results for both teams. The women's 4x100 relay of Shane Valdez, Courtney Gallardo, Courtney Chandler, Molly McElgunn raced to a 50.94 time and second place. The men's 4x100 relay of Sean Dahley, Trey Beachum, Nick O'Loughlin, Ira Autrey ran to a 43.65 and second place.

Event winners for the women included Molly McElgunn in the 100m (12.65), and Jessica Becker in both the shot put (14.75m - 48' 4 3/4") and the discus (40.53m (133' 0"). Becker took second in the hammer (43.30m - 142' 1"), Courtney Gallardo raced to second in the 400m (1:02.24) while Shane Valdez earned second places in both the high hurdles (16.00) and the long jump (4.92m - 16' 1 3/4"). McElgunn was third in the 200m in 26.45. Jaci Kepler was third in the 400m hurdles in 1:13.23 and the 4x400 relay was also third (Gallardo, Steph Wilson, McElgunn, Kepler) with a 4:15.68 time.

Ira Autrey's national qualifying triple jump was good for second place behind Cloud County's Stanley Dervill. Autrey won the long jump with a 7.09m (23' 3 1/4"). Caleb Svaty moved closer to a national qualifying mark in the hammer throw by winning the event in 47.07m (154' 5"). The "B" or provisional mark is 48.31m (158' 6"). Svaty was also third in the discus (42.61m - 139' 9"). Senior Nhial Malia raced to a second place in the 5000m run in 16:25.07. Earning thirds in the meet were Jesse Muntz in the high jump (1.90m - 6' 2 3/4") and Josh Snider in the 800m (2:00.98).

Personal or season's bests included the following women: Courtney Chandler (100m), Mollie Dahl (hammer throw), Dunham in both the shot put and javelin, Jaci Kepler (both hurdles races), Molly McElgunn (100, 200) Josie Schamp (discus), Marcie Schottler (1500m), Shane Valdez (100m hurdles); and men's efforts from Ira Autrey (triple jump), James Bowden (200m), Taylor Hall (800m), Sam Klaassen (hammer, javelin, discus), Jesse Muntz (triple jump), Tomas Ortiz (400m), Josh Snider (800m), Caleb Svaty (discus and hammer), Brian Vanorsby (unattached in the 400m and long jump), and Kenneth Whitacre (200m).

Overall RESULTS

Men's Results  Women's Results