While the Midwest weather was frightful, the Gophers men’s track team traveled to Arizona to escape the dreary temperatures and compete in two meets in two days.

In the throwers’ competition at the Mesa Classic in Mesa, Ariz., junior thrower Jerry Netland threw the discus a personal-record 159 feet, 8 inches – enough to win him first place in the event.

Sophomore Aaron Studt captured second place in the hammer throw in Mesa, with a throw of 182-1.

Junior Andy Bastian finished fourth in the hammer throw with 177-0.

In the discus, the Gophers men also showed well. Studt finished fifth (154-10), and senior Peter Miller threw 148-11, enough to earn him seventh place.

Friday evening, Arizona State University hosted the hammer throw at the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Bastian threw the hammer 173-6 against some of the toughest competition the Gophers have faced yet, earning himself 13th place.

The Gophers performed all of this in spite of travel complications due to inclement weather. They were delayed several hours in airports before arriving at their destination.

Assistant coach Scott Bennett said the Gophers were disappointed by the situation.

“I don’t often look for excuses,” he said. “But if the guys were feeling anything like I was, it’s easy to understand their performances.”

The Gophers will return to competition and unpredictable Midwest weather next weekend, as they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to compete in the Kansas Relays.