By: Brian Larson, Mary Sports Information Director

NCAA Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Leading from virtually wire-to-wire, University of Mary junior Alexis Zeis won the 5,000 meter run at the 2017 NCAA Division II Women's Indoor National Track & Field Championship. The six-time All-American is now a two-time national champion. Zeis finished the race with a time of 16:23.22. Foley clocked in at 16:23.85. Zeis has another race remaining this weekend, running the 3,000 meter run on Saturday, March 11. She owns the nation's top time in the event leading up to the race.
 
In what has become a familiar sight, the race came down to a battle between Zeis and Kendra Foley of Grand Valley State, with less than a second separating the pair at the finish line with the rest of the pack over 14 seconds behind.  The two first battled at the 2015 NCAA Division II cross country championships, with Zeis defeating the defending national champion Foley by less than a second in the closest cross country finish in memory. Last fall, Foley regained her cross country title with Zeis placing second.


Several other NSIC competitors earned All-American honors on Thursday at the NCAA Championships.  Winona State's Kaitlyn Long finished second in the weight throw.  Long's first throw of the day of 67-2.25 was good enough to hold up until the fifth round of the weight throw. In the fifth round, Tynelle Gumbs of Findlay was able to edge her with a throw of 70-3.00.   MSU Moorhead's Katrina Mellegard was competing at the nationals for the first time and made the most of the opportunity. She set a new school record with a toss of 63-8.75, which placed her sixth out of the 18 national qualifiers.

Augustana's Olivia Montez Brown earned first team All-American honors in the long jump and Glen Ellingson took home second team All-American honors in the 5,000-meters.  Montez Brown got the Vikings off to a great start at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the long jump. Montez Brown finished in eighth with a mark of 18-11.25 (5.77 meters) to earn her first first-team All-American honors in her career. Ellingson put together a solid performance in the 5,000-meters finishing in 10th with a time of 14:26.84. Ellingson earned his first All-American honor in his first National Championship appearance.

The NCAA Championships continue on Friday, more info at:
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/trackfield-indoor-men/d2