For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
NSIC Media Relations

The NSIC/US Bank Championships will begin on Sunday from Aberdeen, S.D. when the heptathlon begins at 2:15 p.m.  The event will continue on Monday, April 27 at 10:15 a.m.  The heptathlon will be the first of 21 events in the 2015 NSIC/US Bank Championships.  The University of Sioux Falls will host the remainder of the NSIC/US Bank Championships on Fri.-Sat., May 8-9 at Lillibridge Track & Field Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.  For more information go to the championship website at www.NorthernSun.org/NSICODTF.

NSIC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Sara Wells
Senior
Albion, Neb.
Boone Central HS
Wayne State


NSIC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week
Leah Seivert
Freshman
Sibley, Iowa
Sibley-Ocheyedan HS
Augustana

Seivert was the highest Division II runner to finish in the women’s 10,000-meter at the Mt. Sac Relays with a fourth-place finish. Seivert set a new school record and provisionally qualified with a time of 34:38.77. Seivert’s mark provisionally qualifies her for the NCAA Championships and currently ranks her second in Division II. With this mark, Seivert broke the school record that was set back in 1980. 

NSIC Team Notes
Augustana
Women’s Track: Leah Seivert (Fr., Sibley, Iowa / Sibley-Ocheyedan HS) was the highest Division II runner to finish in the women’s 10,000-meter at the Mt. Sac Relays with a fourth-place finish. Seivert set a new school record and provisionally qualified with a time of 34:38.77. Seivert’s mark provisionally qualifies her for the NCAA Championships and currently ranks her second in Division II. With this mark, Seivert broke the school record that was set back in 1980.  
Women’s Field: Kelsey Kaufmann took seventh in the women’s high jump provisionally qualifying with a clearance of 1.70 meters (5’7”) at the Long Beach Invitational, which ranks 15th in the nation. Kaufmann also took 12th at the Bryan Clay Invite with a clearance of 1.63 meters (5’ 4.25”).

Bemidji State
Chloe Miller and Sara Melom each recorded fourth-place finishes Saturday to lead Bemidji State in Concordia University-St. Paul’s Holst Invitational. In addition, BSU’s 4x100-meter relay team was one of eight season-best marks the Beavers set during the meet, clocking a time of 52.72.
Women’s Track: Chloe Miller (So., Baxter, Minn.) led Bemidji State Saturday, placing fourth in the 100-meter hurdles at the Holst Invitational at Concordia University-St. Paul. Miller’s time of 16.82 seconds was not only her best time in the event this outdoor season, it was the fastest time by any BSU athlete in the event in 2015.
Women’s Field: Samantha Velde (So., Fergus Falls, Minn.) not only placed fifth in the javelin with a season-best mark of 95-04, at Concordia University-St. Paul’s Holst Invitational Saturday, she also took sixth in the discus throw, recording a season-best mark of 117-05.
The Beavers have a busy week of competition ahead of them. The team will travel to Moorhead, Minn. Tuesday to compete in Concordia College’s Cobber Twilight before making the trip to Jamestown, N.D. Saturday to participate in the All Cassel Relays.

Concordia-St. Paul
Women’s Track: Gloria Williams (So., Minneapolis, Minn. / Roosevelt HS) set a CU school record in the 100m with a time of 12.28 at the Holst Invite as she placed third in the event. She currently ranks sixth in the NSIC in the 100m. She was part of a first place 4x100 relay team amd was on the second place 4X400 relay.
Women’s Field: Martina Ware (Throws, 5’6, Sr., Eagan, MN, Eastview HS) set school record in shot put with a throw of 44’2.50 to finish second behind a Division I thrower. Ware ranks fifth in the NSIC in the shot put this season.

University of Mary
Women’s Track: Kathryn Stewart (Sr., Kingston, Jamaica) posted the top times in the 200 and the 400 in the NSIC this season on her trip to the West Coast. Opening at the Bryan Clay Invitational, the senior All-American posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 23.90 seconds in the 200. At the Beach Invitational, Stewart placed seventh and was the top Division II runner in the 400 with a provo time of 55.40.
Women’s Field: Danylle Kurywchak (Jr., Cameron Park, Calif.) faced her best competition of the season and captured back-to- back titles in the triple jump last week. The junior All-American opened her California trip by setting a school record and posting an NCAA automatic qualifying effort with a mark of 42’ 2.25” at the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Asuza Pacific University. Kurywchak then followed up with a win in the triple jump at the Beach Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State. She captured the event with a provisional qualifying effort of 41’ 5.25”. Kurywchak ranks third in the country in the triple jump.

Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota Duluth sent representatives to four different meets in two different time zones over the weekend and seven of those Bulldogs came away with an individual title. Five of those were secured Saturday at the Carleton Relays in Northfield, Minn.,
Women’s Track:  Both junior All-American Hannah Olson and freshman Emilee Trost flew to the west coast to take part in a pair of events, which consisted primarily of NCAA Division I athletes. That tandem posted nearly identical 1,500-meter run times on Friday at the 57th annual Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., with Trost clocking in at 4:30.84 in her section (there were six of them) and Olson at 4:30.89 in hers (which she won). The following day at the Beach Invitational in Norwalk, Calif., Olson finished first in her section in the 5,000-meter run (17:18.85) and Trost was second in her 800-meter run section, finishing in 2:11.81.
At the Carleton Relays, Erin Pangerl (100-meter dash; 12.78) was joined in the winner’s circle by fellow senior Alexandra Rudin (5,000-meter run; 17:44.36), junior Madeline Schaeffer (400-meter hurdles; 63.47), sophomore Breanna Colbenson (3000-meter steeplechase; 10:50.01) and rookie Courtney Spang (pole vault; 10’-0.5”).  
Women’s Field: Senior Jennifer Hitchcock, out-tossed 23 other competitors in the Holst Invitational hammer throw, while freshman Katie Hawkinson and sophomore Stefani Friedenfels placed 1-2 in the triple jump, going 35’-4.50” and 35’-1.25” respectively. Senior captain Amelia Maher’s 5’-5.75” leap in high jump was good for third place out of a field of 19.

Minnesota State
MSU saw action in a few different meets over the weekend competing at the California State University, Los Angeles Twilight Open and the Beach Invitational.  Nicole Larson debuted on the national qualifying stage with her pole vault mark of 12’0.5”.  Rounding out the week at the Manitou Classic were a number of high finishes.  Notables included Mckenna Krause taking first in the 100 meters with a time of 12.5 and Kayla Lindell winning the high jump at 5’3”.
Women’s Track: Sid’Reshia Floyd established a new personal-record in the 100 meters with her sixth-place finish of 12.15 at CSULA Open.
Women’s Field: Bryanna Sudman (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) finished second in the pole vault at the California State University, Los Angeles Twilight Open.  Sudman’s vault of 12’7.5” currently ranks her tied for fifth in the nation. Fellow senior Anna Veroeven took fifth in the triple jump at 39’2.5”, ranking her tied for 13th in Division II.

MSU Moorhead
Women’s Track: Molly Montonye (Distance, Jr., Graceville, Minn./Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley HS) ran an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 4:28.00 in the women’s 1,500-meter run C Division Open at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday.  She finished 20th out of 77 runners, including several from Division I schools, in that race. Her time is ranked sixth in all of Division II and best in the NSIC. A day later at the Long Beach State Invitational,  Montonye was 12th in the 1,500-meter run at 4:28.36.
Women’s Field: Chelsea Klemetson (High Jump, Sr., Sabin, Minn./Moorhead HS), at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif. on Friday, tied for fourth in the high jump with an effort of 5-7.75, which was the best outdoor jump of her career. That mark is tied for eighth in all of Division II, is an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying height and best in the NSIC this season. A day later at the Long Beach State Invitational, Klemetson was 11th in the high jump at 5-7.
 
Minot State
Minot State had great success over the weekend as the team split into two group, with a team traveling to California to compete in three events and a team participating in the Dickinson State Blue Hawk Games.
Women’s Track: DelRay Audet (Hurdles, 5-10, Jr., Minot, N.D. / Minot) ran ninth overall in the 400-meter hurdles and 15th in the 100 hurdles, earning personal bests in both events at the Cal State LA Twilight Open Thursday. She followed that up with 32nd place showing out of 64 runners in the 400 hurdles and a 53rd out of 64 in the 100 hurdles at the Beach Invitational. She also ran 1:04.14 in the 400 hurdles and 15.64 in the 100 hurdles at the Beach Invite.
Women’s Field: Allison Windish (Distance, 5-5, Jr., Wimbledon, N.D. / Barnes County North) earned her first title of the season, taking the women’s 5,000-meters at the Blue Hawk Games Saturday. She ran a season best time of 18:53.33 in the 5,000.
The Beavers will be back in action as a whole unit at the University of Jamestown Al Cassel Relays Saturday in Jamestown.

Northern State
NSU posted several podium finishes this Friday and Saturday at the Sioux City Relays.
Women’s Track: On Friday, sophomores Sasha Hovind and Dakotah Bullen finished one-two in the 5,000m run with times of 17:21.66 and 17:38.02. Hovind’s time crushed Steph Hengel’s 27 year old school record mark of 17:33.37 by over 10 seconds and was less than one second off the NCAA DII national provisional qualifying standard. Fellow distance runner Nicole Arnold set a lifetime best mark of 11:29.54 in the 3000m steeple chase to finish runner-up in that event.
Women’s Field: Trevez Bridgewater, Michaela Schlecht and Haylee Beil finished 2-3-4 in the javelin, respectively in sloppy conditions on the post rain-delay grass runway. Mariah Nelson joined the javelin throwers on the podium with a fourth place finish in the shot put with a mark of 13.00m (42’8”).
The Wolves will return to action this weekend at the prestigious Drake Relays, with additional stops at the Grand View Viking Classic and the Kip Janvrin Open (Indianola, IA), before hosting the NSIC Decathlon and Heptathlon Championships Sunday and Monday (April 26th and 27th).  

Southwest Minnesota State
Women’s Track: Eisha Oden (R-Fr., Marshalltown, Iowa / Marshalltown HS) competed in four events at the Sioux City Relays on Friday and Saturday. She placed seventh out of 37 in the 400 meters with a school record time of 58.75. She also ran on three relay teams during the weekend and was a member of third place 4x100 relay team that finished with a time of 50.47. The sprint medley relay team finished third with a time of 4:24.79 while the 4x200 relay team placed fifth with a time of 1:48.86.
Women’s Field: Rylee Armstrong (So., Peace River, Alberta, Canada / Glenmary HS) competed in three events at the Sioux City Relays on Friday and Saturday. She finished fourth out of 23 in the triple jump with a mark of 11.11m. She also placed 14th in the high jump with a mark of 1.48m and was 29th in the 100 meter hurdles crossing the line at 17.73.

Sioux Falls
Concluding their busy weekend, Sioux Falls Track & Field placed seven athletes in the top-eight of their respective events at the Sioux City Relays.  
Women’s Field: Marissa Whipple was one of two Cougars to place in the women’s shot put, placing fifth on Saturday. Whipple’s registered a best toss of 12.93 meters (42-5.25) and Cassidy Wright finished eighth at 12.44 meters (40-9.75).
USF heads to the Drake Alternative/Alumni Meet hosted by Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn. on Saturday, April 25.

St. Cloud State
Women’s Track: Sam Sunstrom’s (So. Sauk Rapids, Minn.) strong run in the 5000 meter run was awarded the gold medal after finishing a whole minute in front of her fellow competitors with a time of 18:21.36. Following behind in the event was Zia Matti (Fr. Southern Pines, N.C.), who joined Sunstrom on the podium and enjoyed third place with a time of 19:49.34.
Women’s Field: Becky Schmidt (Sr. White Bear Lake, Minn.) took first in both the 100 meter dash and the long jump. She ran to a finishing time of 12.07 seconds and had a final jump of 5.46 meters. She adds these two wins to her previous 2 first place finishes in the outdoor season.
Patience Yalarti (So. Bloomington, Minn.) also enjoyed success in the 200 meter sprint, running into second place with a time of 25.91 seconds. Yalarti followed in behind Schmidt in long jump with her second, second place finish on the day with a jump of 5.43 meters.
Heather Clankie (Jr. Brodhead, Wis.) jumped her way into third place with 40.96 meter jump

Wayne State
Women’s Track: Andrea DeSimone (So., Plattsmouth, Neb.) took 7th place in her debut in the 10,000 meter run in a time of 41:48.06 at the Sioux City Relays on Friday evening.
Women’s Field: Sara Wells (Sr., Albion, Neb.) won the shot put Saturday at the Sioux City Relays with a new school record of 53’9”, topping her previous best of 53’ 4 ½” set last weekend at the Concordia Invitational in Seward, Neb.  The mark is also an NCAA automatic qualifying mark and improves on her NCAA Division II leading mark in the event.  Wells also captured first place in the discus on Friday with a top throw of 158’ 10” and reached an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the hammer throw to place second with a season-best heave of 178’ 4”.  For her efforts, Wells was named the Women’s Athlete of the Meet.
The Wildcats will compete with a partial squad at the Mount Marty Twilight Invite in Yankton, SD on Wednesday.  They will also send a partial squad to the Drake Relays and Grandview Invitational on Friday/Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.  Finally, a group of two women and two men will be traveling to Aberdeen, S.D. to compete in the NSIC Heptathlon/Decathlon.

Winona State
Women’s Track: Jordan Paschke (Jr., Chanhassen, Minn.) ran an eighteen second lifetime best time in the 1500 meters at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse to place second in the event and run the second best 1500 time in WSU history.  
Women’s Field:  Hannah Mueller (Sr., Cambridge, Minn.) won the long jump at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse with a NCAA II provisional leap of 18’ 10 ¾” (5.76m).  This is currently the third best jump in the NSIC.

NSIC Athletes of the Week
Women’s Field
4/7/15    Sara Wells - Wayne State
4/14/15    Sara Wells - Wayne State (2)
4/21/15    Sara Wells - Wayne State (3)
Women’s Track
4/7/15    Jordan Skelly - Winona State
4/14/15    Hannah Olson - Minnesota Duluth
4/21/15    Leah Seivert - Augustana