Michigan Tech’s Sayen and Jacobusse qualify for the National Championships

HOUGHTON, Mich. (WLUC) - The Michigan Tech Huskies track & field team will be represented at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships this year as two athletes found their names on the qualifying list.

Clayton Sayen for the men, will compete in the 1,500 meter. This is Sayen’s second-straight appearance in the 1,500 meter at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Sayen said having been here before, he is confident heading into race day.

“I’m confident in the preliminary round. I had an experience with it last year and I qualified out of the prelims and made the final. Having that experience, and taking it with me into this year, I’m confident. It has been a little bit of a different season than last year but the experience that I’ve had before, that’s what I need that is going to help me qualify into the finals on Saturday,” said Sayen.

Sayen will not be the only Huskie representing Michigan Tech at the national championships as Jesse Jacobusse will run in the 800 meter for the Michigan Tech women. Jacobusse’s qualification in the women’s 800 meter marks the first time since 2019 that a member of the women’s team will represent Michigan Tech at the NCAA Championships.

The duo ran times to get them to the big dance at the St. Francis Last Chance Invite on May 12-13. Head coach for track and field Kristina Owen spoke on how far Sayen has come since the beginning of his collegiate career.

“One of the things I’m most impressed with Clayton is how we’ve seen him develop as a leader of the last two or three years, to the point now where he is the captain of the men’s team. He sets such a great example, and he has used this year, his last year as a wonderful opportunity to mentor the next generation of athletes,” said Owen.

Sayen will kickstart the NCAA Championships racing the 1,500 meter preliminary round at 5:25 p.m. on Thursday, May 25. Jacobusse will compete in the 800 meter preliminary round at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 26. The finals are set for Saturday with the men’s 1,500 meter finals going off at 5:45 p.m. with the women’s 800 meter final being held at 6:55 p.m. MT.

Two Huskies running their last races at the national championships representing not only the Michigan Tech Huskies but the U.P. as a whole.

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