UMAC 2017 Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships set for competitive start Friday
ST. PAUL, Minn.---After an exciting season of indoor track and field that has already seen national-level performances from several athletes, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is set for the start of what should be an exciting two days at the 2017 UMAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the College of St. Scholastica beginning Friday in Duluth, Minnesota.
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Championships Site |
Team Previews |
Men's Honor Roll |
Meet Program |
A year ago, the University of Wisconsin-Superior made an impression in its first appearance as a conference member by putting pressure on St. Scholastica to defend its title. It came down to the final events of day two before the Saints could pull away with a team score of 235.50 to take the men's title with a 30-point lead over the Yellowjackets.
The Saints have taken all seven men's indoor titles and will look to make it eight-straight while holding off a Wisconsin-Superior squad that won the 2016 outdoor title. Both squads are without a ton of talent from last year's teams, but have already had new faces step up who should make it another exciting finish. The remaining UMAC squads should also see several individuals who could capture individual titles.
Of those remaining teams, the University of Minnesota Morris has the top returner in senior Justin Terry who will look to defend his titles in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dash events. Currently, Terry boasts a UMAC-best 7.04 in the 60-meter that is just off the UMAC record of 7.00 and better than his 7.15 winning-time from 2016. In the 200-meter, he's even better – he leads the conference with a time of 22.71 that ties the current record heading into the event set for Saturday.
Two other athletes have top conference times in multiple events – Jacob Gallagher of St. Scholastica and Wil Maki of the Unviersity of Northwestern – and hsould be favorites to win both of their events. Gallagher will look for titles in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs with no need to worry about 2016 record-setting champion Charles Corbett of Wisconsin-Superior of 2016 cross country victor Jackson Lindquist. Gallagher lead the conference with a time of 15:35.3 in the 5,000-meter and 8:56.84 in the 3,000-meter.
Maki – just a junior – will look to repeat as champion in the 800-meter dash. He is the lone UMAC competitor this season to boast a time under two minutes clocking in at 1:59.3. He also has a chance to win the mile run with Corbett out of the picture, but will need to hold off Minnesota Morris distance star Chalmer Combellick. Maki owns a UMAC top time of 4:28.73, while COmbellick has been a former champion and record-holder in the event and clocks in at 4:29.69.
Steefan Prince of Bethany Lutheran College rounds out the top performances on the track in the 400-meter dash. He currently owns a conference-best time of 50.96 which is better that the UMAC record time of 51.48 and last year's top time of 51.85 from former St. Scholastica standout Kevin Wagner.
The throws events will no longer see the likes of St. Scholastica's Jeremey Peterson and should be dominated by the Yellowjacket duo of C.J. Pillath and Thomas Udenberg who were the only two athletes to claim UMAC Field Athlete of the Week honors during the indoor season. Senior Udenberg currently ranks first in the UMAC and 20th in Division III in the shot put with a mark of 16.14 meters (52-11.5) that is already better than his record-setting performance a year ago. Just a sophomore, Pillath leads the cnoference in the weight throw with a toss of 17.78 meters (58-4) that is 14th in the nation.
All of the jump events could see new champions with the graduation of Wagner and three-time UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet Corey Anderson of St. Scholastica. Bethany Lutheran has Nicolas Bruss leading in the triple jump and Noah Larson toping the high jump field, while Alex Dzikonksi and Tyler Modderman-Anderson of Wisconsin-Superior boast the top marks in the long jump and pole vault, respectively.
Crown College and North Central University also have athletes who could score points in the meet for their respective squads. Jalen Phoenix of Crown was the lone Crown athlete to score last year and could again this season in the shot put, while rookie Grahm Johnson of North Central currently ranks third in the shot put behind Udenberg and Pillath.
The conference meet is set to begin Friday at 4 p.m. in Duluth. All championship information can be found on the
UMAC Championships site including live results, ticket information and meet schedule.
Team Previews
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BLC |
CC |
CSS |
NCU |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Michael Dunn | 2nd Season |
2016 Championships
| 4th | 57 points |
Top Returners
- Stefan Prince, So.| 2016: 200m (11th), 400m (4th), 4x200m (3rd), 4x400m (4th) | Current UMAC: 400m (1st), 800m (2nd), 200m (8th) |
- Noah Larson, So. | 2015-16 All-Conference Honors | 2016: 60m (9th), 4x200m (3rd), High Jump (2nd), Triple Jump (5th) | Current UMAC: 60m Hurdles (5th), High Jump (1st), Long Jump (3rd), Triple Jump (3rd) |
- Kevin Harris, Jr. | 2016: 60m (5th), 200m (4th), 400m (3rd), 4x200m (3rd), 4x400m (4th) | Current UMAC: 60m (2nd), 200m (5th), 400m (5th) |
- Joshua Jablon, Jr. | 2016: Shot Put (5th), Weight Throw (7th) | Current UMAC: Shot Put (4th), Weight Throw (6th) |
- Nicolas Bruss, Sr. | 2015: 60m Hurdles (1st), Long Jump (5th), Triple Jump (3rd) | Current UMAC: Long Jump (7th), Triple Jump (1st) |
Top Losses
- Owen Richardson | 2016: Mile (5th), 5000 (6th), 4x400m (4th), DMR (5th) |
- Luke Hahn | Sportsmanship Award | 2016: Pole Vault (8th), 4x200m (3rd), Weight Throw (13th), 60m (20th) |
Need to Know
- Nicolas Bruss is back competing for the Bethany Lutheran Track and Field team after studying abroad last year, he is looking to be a huge asset for the Vikings once again after having won the 60m Hurdles two years ago.
- The Vikings only lost 2 seniors and are back with experience and a few newcomers.
College of St. Scholastica
Todd Bouchie | 1st Season |
2016 Championships
| 1st | 235.5 points |
Postseason: Kevin Wagner – 2nd in Heptathlon; Jeremy Peterson – 11th in Weight Throw at NCAA Championships
Top Returners
Jacob Gallagher, Sr. | 2016: 3rd Place-3000m, 5000m | Current UMAC: 3000m (1st), 5000m (1st) |
Frank Cerar, So. | 2016: 3rd Place-DMR; 4th Place-Pole Vault | Current UMAC: Pole Vault (2nd), 60m Hurdles (3rd) |
Easton Foss, So. | 2016: 4th Place-Mile | Current UMAC: Mile (4th), 3000m (4th) |
Top Losses
- Kevin Wagner | 2014, 2015, 2016 All-UMAC | 2016 NCAA All-American-Heptathlon; 2016 USTFCCCA All-Central Region | 2016: UMAC Champion-60m Hurdles, 400m, Long Jump; Runner Up-60m, 200m, Pole Vault|
- Jeremy Peterson | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 All-UMAC; 2014 UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet | 2016 USTFCCCA All-Central Region | 2016: UMAC Champion-Weight Throw; Runner Up-Shot Put|
- Corey Anderson | 2013, 2015, 2016 All-UMAC; 2013, 2015, 2016 UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet | 2016 USTFCCCA All-Central Region | 2016: UMAC Champion-High Jump; Runner Up-Triple Jump; 3rd Place-Long Jump|
Need to Know
- CSS has won seven consecutive UMAC Indoor Championships
- The Saints return only one All-UMAC performer from a season ago (Jinkins)
- Todd Bouchie is in his first season as head coach after being an assistant since the 2005
Crown College
Bill Braunger | 2nd Season |
2016 Championships
| 6th | 1 point |
Top Returners
- Jalen Phoenix, Sr. | Finished eight in the shot put at 2016 Indoor Championships |
- Joshua Coleman, Jr. | 11th at UMAC Indoor Conference, 10th in the 800 | One of the fastest 400s currently in the UMAC |
- Michael Elmhorst, So. | Finished 11th in the Mile last year, went sub-11 minutes in the 3,000-meters last year | Running a 5-minute flat mile currently |
Need to Know
- Jalen Phoenix scored lone point last year, hope to improve on that score this year.
- Program is still in its second year, so it is a work in progress.
- Joshua Coleman is running great so far, running a 53-second 400-meter time..
North Central University
Trey Meadows | 3rd Season |
2016 Championships
Did not compete
Top Performers
- Grahm Johnson, Fy. | Current UMAC - Shot put, 13.98m (45-10.5) - 3rd |
University of Minnesota Morris
Jessica Devine | 5th Season |
2016 Championships
| 3rd | 83 points |
Top Returners
- Chalmer Combellick, Sr. | All-UMAC: 2013, 2014, 2015 | Current UMAC – 2nd Mile, 3rd 3,000m |
- Justin Terry, Sr. | All-UMAC: 2015, 2016 | 2016: 1st 60m 1st 200m | Current UMAC – 1st 60m, 1st 200m |
- David Roanhorse, So. | 2016: 5th 5000-m, 7th 3000m | Current UMAC – 4th 5,000mn |
- Justin Chute, Jr. | 2016: 5th Pole Vault | Current UMAC – Tied for 3rd Pole Vault |
- Shamund Gordon, So. | 2016: 8th Triple Jump, 8th Long Jump | Current UMAC – 2nd Triple Jump, 4th Long Jump |
Top Losses
- Devan Griffin | All-UMAC: 2016 | 2016: 1st Triple Jump, 4th Long Jump, 6th 60m |
- Luke Lippert | 2016: 4th High Jump |
- Bennett Appel | 2016:7th 60mHurdles |
Need to Know
- Chalmer Combellick did not compete at the 2016 Indoor Championships but will look to regain his title in the Mile Run.
- Justin Terry hopes to defend his titles in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
University of Northwestern
Steve Thiessen | 18th Season |
2016 Championships
| 5th | 52 points |
Top Returners
- Wil Maki, Jr. | Won the 800-meter run at the 2016 UMAC Indoor Championships |Leads the UMAC in 800 and mile run|
- Jackson Peterson, Sr. | Placed in 3000 & 5000-meter runs last year at Indoor Championships|
- Adam Molohon, Sr. | Sprinter who raced to 7.70 second finish at Yellowjacket Open |
- LeRoy Malone, Jr. | Ran 7.51 60-meter dash at Gene Glader Invite |
- Garrett Crown, So. | Has posted 4:47.16 mile this season for Eagles |
Need to Know
- Wil Maki holds the fastest time in the UMAC in the 800-meter run and mile run.
- Wil Maki and Jackson Peterson competed at U of M’s Snowshoe Invite last Friday in Minneapolis.
- Maki won the 800-meter run at last year’s Indoor Championships
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Glen Drexler | 6th Season |
2016 Championships
| 2nd| 205.5 points |
Postseason: Charles Corbett & Thomas Udenberg qualify for nationals
Top Returners
- Alex Dzikonski, So. | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 1st - 4x200m Relay | 2017 UMAC: 3rd – 200m, 2nd – long jump |
- Alex Fathie, Sr. | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 1st - 4x200m Relay | 2017 UMAC: 4th – 200m, 2nd – 400m |
- Henry Haberman, Jr. | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 2nd – high jump | 2017 UMAC: 2nd – high jump |
- C.J. Pillath, So. | 5x UMAC Field Athlete of the Week (2016-17) | 2016 UMAC – 3rd - weight | 2017 UMAC: 1st – weight, 2nd - shot |
- Thomas Udenberg, Sr. | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2015-16 All-Central Region (shot put) | UMAC: 1st – shot, 4th - weight |
Top Losses
- Charles Corbett (’16) | 2015-16 UMAC Track Athlete of the Year | 2015-16 All-Region (3,000m/5,000m) | 2016 UMAC: 1st - Mile Run; 3,000m Run; 5,000m Run; Distance Medley Relay |
- Jackson Lindquist (’16) | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 1st - Distance Medley Relay |
- Anthony Willette (’16) | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 3rd – shot, 2nd – weight |
Need to Know
- The duo of C.J. Pillath and Thomas Udenberg have combined to win every UMAC Field Athlete of the Week honor this season.
- The Yellowjackets currently rank first in the UMAC in six events:4 x 200-meter relay, 4 x 400-meter relay, distance medley relay, pole vault, shot put, and weight throw.