DWU's Caden Milmine earns All-America honors at NAIA outdoor national meet

GULF SHORES, Ala. — Dakota Wesleyan University senior Caden Milmine took seventh place in the men's shot put on Friday, May 27 at the NAIA outdoor track and field national championships, earning All-America honors in the process.

The native of Buffalo, Wyoming had a toss of 54 feet, 1.75 inches on his first throw of the day, which stood up as a top-eight mark in the event.

It was the fifth time in Milmine's career he has qualified for the NAIA meet in either an indoor outdoor season and his second All-America performance, joining a fifth place showing during the 2021 indoor season.

He is only the second DWU men's shot put thrower to earn All-America status at an outdoor meet, joining Steve Schmidt in 1997, who finished fourth. It is only the 11th men's outdoor All-America honor in school history and Milmine is the sixth DWU male to earn All-America honors in an indoor and outdoor meet during their Tiger career.

The throw was three-quarters of an inch off his career outdoor best throw, which he had two weeks ago at the Concordia (Neb.) Twilight meet. On Friday, he had three throws of more than 53 feet. Midland (Neb.) junior Dylan Kucera won the event with a throw of 59 feet, 7 inches.

Milmine was one of five DWU athletes — all in field events — to compete in the three-day national meet.

In the women's hammer throw, senior Morgan Taft finished 17th with a top throw of 157 feet, 6 inches. Katlyn Briggs, a sophomore from Plankinton, did not register a legal mark in three attempts for DWU.

Kiara Anderson, a sophomore from Hastings College, won the event with a throw of 181 feet, 1 inch, or 55.21 meters.

On Thursday, DWU sophomore Lila Gronseth competed in the women's shot put, finishing 17th. Her top throw was 42 feet, 2.75 inches, or 12.87 meters, finishing just shy of reaching the finals of the event. Marian's (Ind.) Arriana Benjamin won the event with a throw of 46 feet, 8 inches.

Lia Guigui, a senior high jumper for the Tigers, competed Friday and earned 20th place, clearing 5 feet, 2.5 inches. Indiana Tech's Erica Xayarath won the event by clearing 5-8.

Briggs also competed Friday in the women's discus throw, where she finished in 26th place. with a top throw of 125 feet, 7 inches. Benedictine's (Kan.) Madison Sutton won the event with a throw of 158 feet, 5 inches.