Official SAC release
 
Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team is this week's South Atlantic Conference Varsity Gems Track and Field Athletes of the Week, league officials announce Tuesday. Junior Jakob Rettschlag, sophomore Lars Laros and freshmen Hamza Chahid and Deon Sumpter receive SAC honors for the first time in their respective careers.
 
The Wingate men's DMR squad ran a 9:40.74 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston Friday, the No. 1 time in the NCAA Division II this season. The Bulldogs shattered the previous school-record mark of 10:03.54, established at the UIndy Last Chance Meet in 2021. Fun fact: Jakob Rettschlag was a member of both the UIndy and the Boston groups.
 
The Bulldogs finished third in the deep Valentine Invitational field. Wingate was the top NCAA Division II quartet to finish the aforementioned race. The DMR crew was busy in Boston, as Chahid (a school-record 4:01.80) and Rettschlag (a 4:05.34 PR) posted NCAA provisional times in the indoor mile. Laros established an NCAA provisional mark in the 3000 meters (a 8:11.19 PR), while Sumpter set a new school standard in the 200 meter dash (22.02).
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate director of cross country, track and field and triathlon Matt van Lierop
 
"Coach Pol Domenech's training program has often proved its strength in the longer distance events, but our trip to Boston University and the Valentine Invitational clearly highlighted the power of the mid-distance events as well."
 
"Both DMRs achieved NCAA provisional standards and eclipsed school records in Boston. The Bulldog men lead the nation, while the WU women are No. 1 in the Southeast Region. This is only the beginning, because we're just getting started."
 
Next on the agenda for Wingate track and field
 
In honor of Major League Baseball's spring training start, the Wingate University track and field teams will send multiple student-athletes to two high-level events this weekend. The Bulldogs' split-squad will be represented at the University of South Carolina Indoor Open Friday and the JDL Fast Track DMR Invitational Friday and Saturday.
 
Wingate University
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.

Editor's note: Varsity Gems is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and the title sponsor of the league's Player of the Week awards program.