2016 UMAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship kicks off Friday
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Since the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) held its first Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2010, there has only been one victor – the College of St. Scholastica. The Saints will look to make it seven in a row, but could face their toughest test yet in securing the title when the meet begins Friday afternoon on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior at Lydia S. Thering Fieldhouse in Superior, Wisconsin.
The Saints return a solid core of athletes who should find success across the board, but host Wisconsin-Superior brings athletes with top marks providing stiff competition for the Saints. The University of Minnesota Morris – runner-up a year ago – also has several athletes who should mix up the standings with the two top teams.
Reigning UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet Nicole Christianson returns for her senior campaign to defend her titles in the high jump and triple jump events. The Saints’ standout set a meet record in the high jump in 2015 and currently ranks fifth in the nation with a mark of 1.70 meters (5-7). She also enters the meet as back-to-back UMAC Player of the Week honoree.
Minnesota Morris boasts two top athletes in the field events as sophomore Sami Brinkmann owns the top seed mark in the weight throw, while senior Alicia Doerr is the reigning champion in the long jump. Brinkmann’s mark of 15.66 meters (51-4.5) currently ranks 46th in all of Division III.
Doerr will receive tough competition in the long jump, though, from Wisconsin-Superior sophomore Svenja Ruehl who currently holds the 16th-best mark in the nation at 5.56 meters (18-3).
In the sprints, Doerr and senior teammate Teja Foy enter the 60-meter dash with the top two seed times, while Saints sophomore Sammi Argir is third after winning the event a year ago. St. Scholastica junior Hannah Russert also returns as reigning champion in the 60-meter hurdles with the top seed time.
Wisconsin-Superior rookie Kelli Praska has already made her mark on the conference this season winning two UMAC weekly awards. She enters Friday with the top seed in three events including the 400- and 800-meter runs and the mile. Her time of 2:15.07 in the 800-meter event also ranks 16th among all Division III runners.
After winning the mile last year, Saint sophomore Casey Hovland will focus her attention on the two distance events with the top times in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs. In the 3,000-meter event, Hovland ranks 50th in the nation, while her time of 17:39.10 in the 5,000-meter run is over a minute faster in than the next UMAC competitor and ranks 17th in the nation.
As meet record holder in the 3,000-meter run and reigning champion in both distance events, Minnesota Morris senior Rachel Wingenbach will look to challenge Hovland and give the Cougars a chance at the title.
Bethany Lutheran College finished third a year ago and will be led by junior Megan Sauer and sophomore Kristen Elyea who both enter the meet with top-10 seed times in the mile and both distance races. Both have also been instrumental parts of the Vikings’ 4 x 800-meter relay squad that set a school record earlier this season. Sophomore Kari Marzinske also holds top-five marks in multiple field events entering the meet Friday.
The University of Northwestern-St. Paul will look for continued improvement while Crown College joins the UMAC indoor championship for the first time.
The UMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships are set to begin Friday with running and field events at 6 p.m. Day two of the championships are slated to start at 12 p.m. on Saturday. All meet information including ticket information, meet schedule, meet information and more can be found on the UMAC championship site.
Live results and
scoreboard will be provided by Hero’s Timing. Fans can also keep up with the meet app for smartphones available for download at
www.herostiming.com.
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2016 UMAC Championship site