UMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship to Feature New Two-Day Format
2015 UMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship Webpage
MORRIS, Minn. – Big Cat Stadium at the University of Minnesota Morris in Morris, Minn. is set to host the first-ever two-day Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championship this Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2. Six UMAC men’s and women’s teams will compete in the new two-day format looking to be crowned conference champions following Saturday’s final event.
In men’s action the College of St. Scholastica will look to take home their fourth straight UMAC title. The Saints feature defending UMAC outdoor event champions Chris Lawson, Corey Anderson and Jeremy Peterson. Lawson took home the individual title at last year’s championship in the men’s 5000m run while Anderson won the triple jump. Peterson is the reigning champion in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. Peterson was also named the 2014 UMAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Meet following his performances last season. His shot put mark of 14.63m and discus throw of 45.40m last year are also UMAC championship records in each event.
The University of Minnesota Morris, who took second at last year’s championship meet, boasts sprinter Justin Terry who currently holds the top time in the conference in the 100m dash with a 10.78 as well as the top UMAC 200 m dash mark with a 22.43. The Cougars are also the reigning UMAC champions in the 4x100m relay and the 4x800 m relay and will look to score valuable points in those events again this year.
Cody Sprenger and Wil Maki of the University of Northwester will look to add to the mix in the sprints and mid-distance events this weekend. Sprenger’s 400m dash time of 49.81 is a UMAC best this season while Maki holds the top spot in both the 800m and 1500 m races this season.
Martin Luther College returns 2014 high jump champion and UMAC outdoor record holder Todd Brassow to the field in 2015. The Knights will also hope to score points in the javelin throw as Martin Loescher currently holds the top mark in the league with his throw of 49.67m.
2014 UMAC Cross Country Individual Champion and 2015 UMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet Owen Richardson returns to the field for Bethany Lutheran College. Richardson currently holds the top UMAC time in the 3000m steeplechase with a 10:01.11.
St. Scholastica has dominated the all-time track and field championships list on the women’s side having won the last ten UMAC Outdoor titles. The Saints return 2014 medal winners Amy Campbell, Nicole Christianson, Danielle Dickson, Rachel Harmston, Jordan Johnson and Brittney Ludwig to the field this season as well as Brianna Buske, who owns the top UMAC marks this season in the 400m and 800m runs. The Saints will also look to defend their title in the 4x400 m relay.
Minnesota Morris, who finished second in last year’s championship, returns standout Kaitlin Kamm. Kamm was the individual champion in 100m hurdles and the high jump at the 2014 championship. Kamm is the current UMAC record holder in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.68 at last year’s championship. 2014 UMAC pole vault champion Carly Denler also returns for the Cougars. The Cougars will also look to defend their titles and gain valuable points in the 4x100 and 4x800 m relays.
Jordan Skarin and Amber Doebler from Northwestern have most frequently appeared in the top 10 for the Eagles this season. Look for Doebler and Skarin to make an impact for the Eagles in the 100m and 200m dash this weekend.
A young Martin Luther team women’s team will be led by Katie Zietlow and Rachel Winter who have both set school records for the Knights this season. Zietlow currently holds the second best UMAC time in the 400m hurdles while Winter holds the third place time in the conference in the 400m dash.
Bethany Lutheran’s Kari Marzinske will hope to provide the Vikings points in the hurdles and jumps. Distance runners Lauren Farquhar and Megan Sauer also return to the field for the Vikings in 2015 and will look to add to the mix.
North Central University will be competing with a minimal roster in the meet, meaning the Rams will not offer a full squad to qualify in the team standings.
Both track and field events will begin Friday at 4 p.m. Competition will resume Saturday at 11 a.m. with field events and running events will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday All events are being held at Big Cat Stadium in Morris, Minn.