WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary's University's Kyle Lichttenegger (De Pere, Wis.) will be making his third NCAA Division III national championships appearance when he takes part in this weekend's championships at Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
 
And the Cardinal senior is hoping the third time is the charm.
 
After all, Lichttenegger's first two NCAA appearances did not go quite the way he had scripted them in his mind.
 
In 2019, Lichttenegger — joined by Matt Boone (Mindoro, Wis.), Noah Anderson (St. Paul, Minn.), and Desmond Steward (Two Harbors, Minn.) — toed the line in the national championships' outdoor 4x100 relay, only to be disqualified due to an out-of-lane exchange.
 
In 2020, Lichttenegger had his sights set on not only All-American status — but a national title — boasting the nation's top mark in the long jump heading into the indoor competition. But the arrival of COVID-19 shut down the national championships just hours before he was set to compete.
 
This time around, Lichttenegger is determined to have his storybook ending, one fitting for his storied track and field career.
 
"It's always special to be at the national championships, but this year is even more special to me because of how last year went," said Lichttenegger, who will join his three teammates on the track for the prelims of the 4x100 at 2:15 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, with the finals set for 11:15 a.m. (CST) on Saturday. "To be able to come back and qualify means a lot to me."
 
And the Cardinal senior isn't the only one completing the final chapters of the 2021 outdoor season and the Division III national championships.
 
Boone and Anderson are once again joining Lichttenegger in the 4x100 relay, while the fourth member of the quartet, Garrett Jackson (West Linn, Ore.) and Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.) will be making their first national championships appearances.
 
"I'm happy that the NCAA was able to find a way to host the championships this year," said SMU first-year head coach Jake Malm. "Our athletes have worked hard to get to this point, and we're glad they get a shot to compete against the best.
 
"I'm excited for them — they are the ones that deserve all the credit."
 
Boone and his fellow relay mates have their sights set high heading into Thursday's competition, and the trio of returners is determined to erase the memory of 2019's misfortune.
 
"To me, expectations are high, but we still have the same goals that we set at the very beginning of the year," said Boone, a senior running in his final NCAA Championships. "We all want to have that title of All-American and post as fast of a time as we can.
 
"Already having some experience at the national stage is a plus, and we want more than what happened last time."
 
Anderson, who will run the third leg of the relay, agreed with Boone — this quartet is ready, willing, and able to make a little noise.
 
"The expectations are high; we are focused and ready to make it to finals," Anderson said. "I'm excited to run with these guys, and we are all looking to perform to the best of our abilities."
 
The newbie of the quartet, Jackson knows he will have to keep his emotions in check, and be prepared to be at his best when he takes the baton from Boone to run the second leg.
 
"Being the new member of the relay, I am very excited and optimistic about our chances for success next week," Jackson said. "Our potential hasn't even peaked yet, which only makes me more motivated.
 
"Personally, I am very excited, and very nervous," he added. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm super proud to represent Saint Mary's."
 
Like Jackson, Swanson admits that making her national championship debut is a bit nerve-wracking — not to mention still a little surreal — but the Cardinal sophomore is determined to make the most of this hard-earned opportunity.
 
"I never thought I would be in this situation, especially throwing javelin for the first time a year ago, but it is an amazing privilege to have this opportunity," admitted Swanson, whose qualifying mark of 42.46 meters has her 12th among the 19 qualifiers in the event, which will take place on Thursday at 4 p.m. (CST). "My goal is pretty simple going in —  I will try to do my best, and hopefully the hard work I have put in pays off."
 
Knowing that this will be his final collegiate competition, Boone took a moment to reflect on his track experience.
 
"Looking back on my years here, I have just enjoyed every aspect of it," he said. "I just want to enjoy every moment of these championships. I will certainly miss running with 'Saint Mary's' across my chest, but I'm very much looking forward to representing them one more time at the national level."
 
Lichttenegger is also feeling a bit nostalgic as the end of his collegiate career draws near.
 
"It is a very bittersweet moment for me personally," he admitted. "Having qualified for the last three National Championships is something I never thought I would be able to say, and having it be the last is very sad — but I am so excited to be there and to see what we can do on the national stage one final time."