BISMARCK, N.D. – Bismarck State track and field opened its 2025 indoor season with a strong showing at the Mike Thorson Alumni Classic hosted by the University of Mary on Friday and Saturday, highlighted by national qualifying performances by Cayden Kraft and Priviledge Bower. At the event, the men's team placed third among the field of six, and the women's team placed fourth.

Men's Meet Standings
University of Mary – 223
Dickinson State University – 145
Bismarck State College – 123
Valley City State University – 91
Dawson Community College – 17
Minot State University – 6


Women's Meet Standings
University of Mary – 203
Dickinson State University – 135
Valley City State University – 59
Bismarck State College – 40
Minot State University – 17
Dawson Community College – 2
 

Bower placed second in both the 60 meters and the 200, clocking a 7.60 in the 60 finals after setting a new school record in the qualifying with a 7.58, a mark good enough to qualify her for the NAIA Indoor Nationals Track & Field Championships with B Standard. She added another runner-up finish on Friday in the 200 at 25.45, converted to a 25.06, which missed B Standard qualifying by only seven-tenths of a second. Priviledge's times currently rank sixth (60m) and fourth (200m) in the NAIA. Junior Aisha Zaffino joined her in the 60 finals, finishing eighth, and placed 12th in the 200.

In the hurdles, BSC advanced three athletes to the women's 60-meter finals. Dedra Wood placed third in 9.42, with freshman Kaylee Narmah close behind in fourth at 9.42, and freshman Katelynn Folvag seventh in 9.95.

Freshman Mercedes Lura claimed the Mystics' lone women's event victory, winning the pole vault at 2.95m and setting a new school record in the process. Teammate Hannah McGraw followed in second with a 2.80m (9-02.25) clearance. In the field events, freshman Jasmine Nash placed ninth in both the shot put (11.17m) and weight throw (12.21m), while freshman Catherine Nichols led the way in the long jump.

On the men's side, junior Nicholas Pegors put together one of the meet's strongest all-around performances, dominating the heptathlon field. Pegors won the 60m hurdles (8.44 PR), the pole vault (4.20m PR), and the 1000m (2:54.62), while posting top-six finishes in every event to secure a new school record point total of 4,857 (4,833 converted). It is currently the fourth-best mark in the NAIA.

Junior Nathan Mathern delivered a sweep in the open sprints, winning both the 200 (22.26) and Saturday's 400 (49.32). His 400 time converted to a 48.55 currently sits him sixth in the NAIA, just 11-tenths of a second from B Standard. Freshman Keaton Saastad added runner-up honors in the 200 (23.30) and placed sixth in the 400.

Looking to make his way back to nationals, Sophomore Cayden Kraft delivered, winning the Friday 400 section in 48.91, which is converted to 48.15 and qualifies him for nationals once again. This time currently ranks third in the NAIA, and he added on further by placing third in the 600 in 1:22.61, currently the ninth-best time in the NAIA.

In the hurdles, freshman Jace Lovely captured the men's 60-meter title in 8.54 and added a fourth-place mark in the 200. Freshman Alex Hamilton and Lovely also advanced in the 60, finishing 14th and 15th respectively in prelims.

BSC's jumpers and throwers added several strong results, including freshman Austin Privratsky, who placed fifth in the triple jump (12.51m) and 10th in the long jump (6.22m). Sophomore Jordan Sunstrom highlighted the throws squad with a PR in the weight throw (13.28m) and a ninth-place finish in the shot put (13.13m). Freshman Gavin Guinn added seventh in the shot put (13.50m).

Here are the full results for the Mystics:

The Mystics return to action next weekend, Dec. 13, as they're back across town at the UMary Fieldhouse for the UMary Open. Times and event schedule will be posted when available.

Check the full schedule for all the latest details and coverage.
 

Be sure to visit BSCMystics.com and download the MysticNation app to continue to stay up to date with everything going on in Mystic Athletics.

FOLLOW THE MYSTICS
Facebook: @BSCMystics
Instagram: @gomystics
X: @BSCMystics
YouTube: @GoMystics
#GoMystics