NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Ian Mortensen won the 2024 MIAC Decathlon and Soren Kaster finished fifth as the Carleton College men's track & field team takes the early lead in the MIAC Outdoor Championships.
 
This marks the seventh time that a Carleton entrant has won the MIAC Decathlon. Mortensen now ranks No. 3 on Carleton's all-time performance list and No. 5 on this season's national list for NCAA Division III.
 
Carleton champions in the MIAC Decathlon
1985  --  Rick Bollin
1986  --  Rick Bollin
1987  --  Paul Thorn
1989  --  Steve Burch
2015  --  Jack Buckner
2016  --  Jack Buckner
2024  --  Ian Mortensen
 
Mortensen ended the first day of the decathlon in fifth place, 90 points behind the leader through five events. Kaster sat sixth overall 154 points behind his teammate.
 
Mortensen began Day 2 with a time of 16.24 in the 110-meter hurdles (706 points) but that dropped him 211 points behind the leader. The Carleton senior's best attempt in the discus throw measured a personal-best 38.52 meters (594 meters), good for second in the event and pulling him 99 points closer.
 
Mortensen earned another 617 points after clearing 4.00 meters in the pole vault. He moved into fourth place but still sat 149 points off the lead. The ninth event was Mortensen's best. He measured 56.52 meters in the javelin, easily the top mark in the field. That earned him 686 points, and gave him a 104-point advantage heading into the final event.
 
The two-day competition closed with the 1500-meter run. Mortensen placed fifth, but his time of 4:45.08 was good for fifth place and 649 points, securing a 93-point margin of victory.
 
Mortensen totaled 6,525 points. Saint John's Max Lelwica took second in the decathlon with 6,432 points and Concordia's Wade Rhonemus took third with 6,416 points. Demetri Lord of St. Olaf was fourth at 6,309 points, and Kaster (6,301 points) edged Saint John's Anthony Thurk (6,269) for fifth place.
 
Kaster takes home All-MIAC Honorable Mention thanks to his fifth-place showing. He posted PRs in 9 of the 10 events. Including all five competitions on Friday.
 
Kaster started Day 2 with a time of 15.95 in the 110-meter hurdles (738 points). He measured 29.70 meters (459 points) in the discus and cleared 4.40 meters (731 points) in the pole vault. His javelin throw of 47.11 meters earned 546 points before closing the competition with a time of 4:35.58 in the 1500-meter run (708 points).
 
It is believed that Kaster posted the best-ever decathlon score for a first-year at Carleton. He ranks No. 7 on Carleton's all-time decathlon list and is tied for No. 4 on the school's pole vaulting chart.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will take a contingent to compete at the Ole Open, the final tune up before next weekend's MIAC Championships.