SAN DIEGO – Saturday was a great day to be a Badger in San Diego as five Wisconsin men's track and field student-athletes picked up wins at the California Collegiate Open, hosted by UC-San Diego.
 
Freshman Finn Gessner came out strong in his outdoor season debut, earning a win in the steeplechase with a time of 9 minutes, 24.62 seconds.
 
Earning another win for Wisconsin was senior Carl Hirsch, who won the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.35. Also competing in the event was freshman Tannor Wagner, who crossed the line in 1:54.77 to finish eighth overall.
 
Ryan Dundun came out with an explosive performance in the 400 hurdles, winning the event with a personal-best time of 52.50.
 
Sophomore Tucker Wedig, an NCAA West Preliminary Round qualifier last year, won the hammer throw with a huge personal best of 203 feet, 7 inches (62.07m). Wedig became the fourth athlete in school history to break the 200-feet mark in the hammer throw.
 
Rashid Coulibaly started off his outdoor season with a win in the pole vault. The sophomore cleared a height of 16-0 3/4 (4.90m) to take the crown. Teammate Tim Guthrie finished fourth with a clearance of 15-7 (4.75m).
 
In the shot put, senior Josh McDonald threw the shot a distance of 56-1 1/4 (17.70m) to take the runner-up spot in the event. McDonald also finished third in the discus with a heave of 172-5 (52.55m).
 
Wisconsin picked up a runner-up finish in the 4x400 relay. The squad of multi-event athletes Paul Afflitto, Sawyer Smith, Trent Nytes and Zach Lorbeck took second in 3:19.07.
 
The Badgers kept things going in the 110 hurdles, where Lorbeck and Nytes took fourth and fifth, respectively. Lorbeck came in with a time of 15.25 seconds and Nytes crossed the line in 15.29. Afflitto took eighth overall with a time of 15.59.
 
In the 200 meters, Smith took fourth overall with a time of 22.04. Nytes placed eighth with a time of 22.43 while Afflitto was close behind, crossing the line in 22.46 to place ninth.
 
Up Next
The Badgers will head down south as they are slated to compete at the Spec Towns Invite in Athens, Georgia, next weekend. The two-day meet is expected to begin at 11:45 a.m. on Friday and 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.
 
2018 California Collegiate Open
San Diego, California
March 31, 2018
 
Men's Results:
200 Meters
4. Sawyer Smith – 22.04
8. Trent Nytes – 22.43
9. Paul Afflitto – 22.46
12. Zach Lorbeck – 22.51
 
800 Meters
1. Carl Hirsch – 1:50.35
8. Tannor Wagner – 1:54.77

110 Hurdles
4. Zach Lorbeck – 15.25
5. Trent Nytes – 15.29
8. Paul Afflitto – 15.59
15. Sawyer Smith – 16.17
 
400 Hurdles
1. Ryan Dundun – 52.50

3000 Steeplechase
1. Finn Gessner – 9:24.62
 
4x400 Relay
2. Afflitto, Smith, Nytes, Lorbeck,– 3:19.07
 
Pole Vault
1. Rashid Coulibaly – 16-0 3/4 (4.90m)
4. Tim Guthrie – 15-7 (4.75m)
 
Shot Put
2. Josh McDonald – 56-1 1/4 (17.70m)
 
Discus
3. Josh McDonald  – 172-5 (52.55m)
 
Hammer Throw
1. Tucker Wedig – 203-7 (62.07m)