PREVIEW: Huskies send distance duo to Raleigh Relays

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech track and field will send a pair of distance runners to compete in the Raleigh Relays this week, hosted by NC State. Senior Clayton Sayen (Houghton, Michigan) and sophomore Drew Kolodge (Clay, Michigan) both hit qualifying marks to earn entry to the meet and will compete against a massive field of distance runners, many of whom compete at the Division I level. Sayen and Kolodge are eyeing times that could gain their qualification to the NCAA Championships in May.

"This is one of the premier events in the country, for distance runners especially," said head coach Kristina Owen. "We are bringing Clayton and Drew there because it is their best early opportunity to set National qualifying marks. There will be a lot of GLIAC representation as well, which should give us some familiarity. We are looking for new personal bests and for Clayton to do that, it would probably be a school record as well. He has certainly set the bar high in his career already."

All three days of the competition will be streamed by NC State via ESPN affiliates which can be accessed through links on the MTU Track & Field Schedule page.

Kolodge and Sayen have tapered their training this week in preparation for the trip to North Carolina. Last season, the Huskies gained entry to a similar event in Austin, Texas (Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays) but did send a contingency to Raleigh during the 2019-20 season. In Texas, Sayen competed alongside teammates Braden Reichl and Emily Byrd. Sayen hit an NCAA provisional mark in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:48.61. He also appeared in the 800-meter event, finishing just short of the NCAA provisional standard. 

This fall, Sayen impressed in Cross Country and will be running longer distances in North Carolina. He won the Roy Griak Invitational and was named USTFCCCA All-Region as well as All-GLIAC First Team with four top-10 finishes.

Kolodge made the starting list for the 5,000 meters after setting a qualifying mark running unattached at Grand Valley State indoors this winter. He also competed in five cross country races this fall, posted a season-best 8K time of 25:35.0 at the Lewis Crossover Meet, and placed 27th at the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Cross Country Championships.