Tech T&F Set for NCAA Championships

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Senior's Jesse Jacobusse and Clayton Sayen are prepped to represent Michigan Tech at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, taking place from Thursday to Saturday (May 25-27) in Pueblo, Colorado.

"Both Jesse and Clayton have been looking fantastic lately," head coach Kristina Owen said. "Coach Young has had them doing a lot of speed development work and we really saw it on display as they came into championship shape for GLIAC's and the Last Chance Meet at St. Francis and now they're sharpened to a fine tip point for nationals. They're ready and we're so excited to see them compete on the national stage."

"Our group seems positive and optimistic," assistant head coach Robert Young mentioned. "They are slightly apprehensive about the altitude but have an air of confidence that they can run with anyone who is here. Both Jesse and Clayton are in heat one of their races which brings challenges and advantages."

Sayen, a native of Houghton, Michigan, will open the NCAA Championships for the Huskies in the first heat of the men's 1,500m preliminary round on Thursday at 7:25 p.m. (EST).

Of note, Sayen is one of three student-athletes in the 1,500m preliminary round who made the 1,500m finals at the National Championships last season. However, Sayen's journey back to the national meet in the 1,500m was different than a year ago.

"I started feeling like myself again at the GLIAC meet and that's when the ball started rolling for me," Sayen mentioned. "I squeaked into the national meet as the last entry accepted, but my intentions are far from finishing in the last position. I'm grateful to have a coaching staff that was able to support me through the ups and downs of this season and were still able to guide me to the national meet."

Jacobusse, hailing from Chelsea, Michigan, takes to the track for the women's 800m preliminary round running in the first heat on Friday at 8 p.m. (EST).

"Coming off of such a big breakthrough at the Last Chance Meet has definitely helped me gain confidence in believing that I belong in this race," Jacobusse mentioned. "I'm mostly excited for the opportunity to be at the national meet and to race so many other high caliber runners and give myself one more shot to see what I can do."

The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be the last event that Jacobusse and Sayen will be representing Michigan Tech and the two took time to reflect on their time as Huskies:

"I am very thankful for the opportunity that my coaches were able to give me by allowing me to finish out this last year," Jacobusse said. "I was a little shocked initially by the goals they had set for me, but the way they believed in me and poured so much time and energy into both my athletic and personal development, has made a world of difference in the way I was able to perform this season. One thing I learned is that it's not always the things you expect you'll be best at that turn out to be your most successful endeavors."

"The last five years at Michigan Tech have been a very special time for me and I'm fortunate that I have been able to share it with my hometown community," Sayen said. "Though I have yet to officially race in Houghton since I was in High School in 2018, the support that I have received from the community hasn't skipped a beat since then. I remember my first collegiate race having legitimate concerns that I would be the last runner to finish in a field of 300 and now I'm throwing my name in the mix to be the best 1500m runner in Division II this year. I'm excited to wear the Black and Gold one last time and represent my hometown on the national stage."