Coach Leif Nelson joined the Minot State track and field staff in the fall of 2024 after complete his collegiate career at USC and is one of the most decorate track and field student-athletes in Minot State's NCAA history.
A product of Devils Lake, North Dakota and a three-year competitor at Minot State, Nelson holds the all-time school record in the javelin at Minot State as he qualified for the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, earning All-American honors both times.
A Second-Team All-American in the spring of 2022, Nelson finished 12th in the nation with a throw of 207 feet, 11 inches, then earned First-Team All-American honors in May of 2023 as he finished 5th at nationals with a throw of 234 feet, 8 inches.
Finishing his collegiate career competing for USC in the spring of 2024, Nelson advanced to the NCAA Division I National Championships where he finished 10th in the nation with a mark of 232-10 to once again be named All-American. He graduated at the University of Southern California with his master's degree in Gerontology in 2024.
He holds a career-best mark of 239 feet, 11 inches in the javelin – which he accomplished at USC – and set the Minot State school record in the event with a throw of 237 feet, 1 inch.
He also set personal-best marks of 53 feet, 5 inches in the shot put (at USC) and 153 feet, 7 inches in the discus (at Minot State).
