Thrilling 2017 UMAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships begin Friday
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The 2017 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships should cap off a thrilling indoor season and could see several new meet records beginning Friday at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.
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Championships Site |
Team Previews |
Women's Honor Roll |
Heat Sheet |
Last year, the St. Scholastica women's squad ran away with its seventh-straight UMAC indoor title tallying 246 points that was 73 points better than runner-up University of Minnesota Morris. The Cougars will look to threaten for the title, though, after taking the 2016 outdoor championship in dominating fashion. The Saints boast many of the top performances and a ton of depth that could help them make it eight-consecutive wins and hold off the Cougars.
Heading into the meet, the Saints boast the top two performance in the short sprints with Hannah Russert topping the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.24 that is faster than the winning time a year ago, while Sammi Argir will look for a title in the 60-meter dash with a leading time of 8.29. The Saints also own the top three seed times in the event.
Russet is also a favorite in the high jump but will have a tough test against first-year Megan Rutt of Bethany Lutheran College. Both Russert and Rutt boast UMAC-leading marks of 1.60 meters (5-3). The event win is wide open with the graduation of Saints' All-American jumper and 2016 champion Nicole Christianson.
Argir ranks second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.14 and will look to defend her title against Valerie Rowe of the University of Wisconsin-Superior who enters Saturday's race with a time of 27.05.
The middle distance events were dominated by rookie Kelli Praska of Wisconsin-Superior in 2016 as she took the 400-meter, 800-meter and Mile events. This season the Saints' Taylor Gibson leads both the 400-meter and 800-meter races, while Megan Sauer of Bethany Lutheran tops the Mile field with a time of 5:30.95.
Reigning UMAC cross country champion Casey Hovland set conference records in both the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter events last season, but has yet to compete in 2017. Hovland is among the participant list for the 5,000-meter, but Bethany Lutheran's Sauer currently owns the top seed time. Hannah Goemann of Minnesota Morris currently leads the3,000-meter top time clocking in at 10:42.28. Goemann will also be part of the Cougars' Distance Medley Relay that set a conference record last year and has taken four-straight titles.
The jumps events are currently led by 2016 Field athlete of the Meet Svenja Ruehl. She enters the long jump with a mark of 5.29 meters (17-4.25) after setting a meet record last year to qualify for the Division III national meet. The junior also ranks first in the triple jump with a jump of 11.20 meters (36-9) that is 34th in Division III. Carly Denler of Minnesota Morris is a favorite in the pole vault with a top seed mark of 3.26 meters (10-8.25) that is 0.26 meters better than the next entrant.
The 2016 Outdoor Field Athlete of the Meet in Sami Brinkmann will look to add to the Cougars total with points and defend her title in the weight throw. She currently ranks in the top 50 nationally with a mark of 15.45 meters (50-8.25). Taylor Phillips of Wisconsin-Superior leads the shot put field with a mark of 12.72 meters (41-8.75) that is already better than last year's winning mark.
In addition to the top four squads, the University of Northwestern and Crown College will look for improved performances in 2017.
The conference meet is set to begin Fridayat 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 |
UMM |
UNW |
UWS |
Bethany Lutheran College
Michael Dunn | 2nd Season |
2016 Championships
| 4th | 83.5 points |
Top Returners
- Megan Sauer, Sr. | 2016: 3000m (3rd), 5000 (4th), DMR (2nd) |Current: 800 (5th), Mile (1st), 3000m (2nd), 5000 (1st) |
- Lydia Hildebrandt, So. | 2016: 60m (4th), 200m (6th), 4x200m (4th), 4x400m (4th) |Current: 60m (6th), 200m (4th), 400m (2nd) |
- Kari Marzinske, Jr. | 2015-16 UMAC All-Conference | 2016: 60m Hurdles (4th), 4x200m (4th), 4x400m (4th), High Jump (2nd), Long Jump (6th) |Current: 60m Hurdles (8th), High Jump (3rd), Long Jump (2nd), Triple Jump (5th) |
- Lindsey Stewart, Sr. | 2016: Weight Throw (6th), Shot Put (10th) |Current: Weight Throw (5th), Shot Put (12th) |
- Kirsten Elyea, Jr. | 2016: Mile (6th), 3000 (6th), DMR (2nd) |Current: 800m (9th), Mile (2nd), 3000m (5th), 5000m (2nd) |
Top Losses
- Danielle Marzinske | 2016: 60m Hurdles (5th), 4x200m (4th), 4x400m (4th), High Jump (9th), Long Jump (4th) |
Need to Know
- Bethany Lutheran’s women’s team returns all but 1 from last year’s conference championships.
College of St. Scholastica
Todd Bouchie | 1st Season |
2016 Championships
| 1st | 246 points |
Postseason: Nicole Christianson tied for sixth in High Jump at NCAA Championships
Top Returners
- Hannah Russert, Sr. | 2015, 2016 All-UMAC | 2016: UMAC Champion-60m Hurdles; 5th Place-Shot Put | Current UMAC: 60m Hurdles (1st), High Jump (T-1st), Long Jump (3rd), 200m (6th)|
- Taylor Gibson, Sr. | 2015, 2016 All-UMAC | 2016: UMAC Champion-4x400m; Runner Up-800m; 5th Place-400m | Current UMAC: 400m (1st), 800m (2nd) |
- Sammi Argir, Jr. | 2015, 2016 All-UMAC | 2016: UMAC Champion-200m, 4x200m, 4x400m; 3rd Place-60m | Current UMAC: 200m (2nd), 60m (2nd)|
- Katharine Roetering, Sr. | 2014, 2016 All-UMAC | 2016: UMAC Champion-Pole Vault; 4th Place-Triple Jump; 5th Place-Long Jump | Current UMAC: Pole Vault (3rd), Triple Jump (3rd)|
Top Losses
- Nicole Christianson | 2013, 2015, 2016 All-UMAC; 2015 UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet | 2014, 2016 NCAA All-American-High Jump; 2016 USTFCCCA All-Region | 2016: UMAC Champion-High Jump; 2nd Place-Triple Jump; 3rd Place-Long Jump|
Need to Know
- CSS has won seven consecutive UMAC Indoor Championships
- The Saints return six of 12 All-UMAC performers from a season ago
- Todd Bouchie is in his first season as head coach after being an assistant since the 2005
Crown College
Bill Braunger | 2nd season at institution |
2016 Championships
| No team finish |
Top Losses
- Sarah Holmquist | 6:31 mile at Indoor last year |
- Tessa Grund | Finished 12th in the weight throw |
Need to Know
- First-year Mackenzie Nelson leads the way after she became the first ever all-conference cross country runner for the women. She has a top five mile in the conference.
- Fellow first-year Kaylee Fickle has been close behind Nelson all season, both run miles sub 6.
- Program still in infancy, growth will be key factor.
University of Minnesota Morris
Jessica Devine | 5th Season |
2016 Championships
| 2nd | 173 points |
Top Returners
- Sami Brinkmann, Jr. | All-UMAC: 2015, 2016 | 2016: 1st Weight Throw, 3rd Shot Put | Current UMAC – 1st Weight Throw |
- Carly Denler, Sr. | All-UMAC: 2016 | 2016: 2nd Pole Vault, 4th High Jump, 7th Triple Jump | Current UMAC – 1st Pole Vault|
- Molly McGrath, Jr. |2016: 3rd Triple Jump, 5th Pole Vault, 8th Long Jump | Current UMAC – 2nd Triple Jump, 5th Long Jump|
- Sierra Paske, So. | 2016: 5th Weight Throw, 8th Shot Put | Current UMAC – 6th Weight Throw |
- Hannah Goemann, Sr. | All-UMAC: 2016 | 2016: 5th Mile| Current UMAC – 1st 800m, 1st 3000m |
Top Losses
- Alicia Doerr | All-UMAC: 2015, 2016 | 2016: 2nd 60m, 2nd Long Jump, 3rd Pole Vault|
- Teja Foy| All-UMAC: 2013, 2014, 2016 | 2016: 1st 60m, 2nd 200m, 6th 400m |
- Laura Borkenhagen | All-UMAC: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 | 2016: 2nd Mile Run, 7th 800m |
Need to Know
- Sami Brinkmann will look to defend her title in the weight throw, looking for her third championship in a row.
- The women’s DMR will attempt their 5th consecutive UMAC indoor title.
University of Northwestern
Steve Thiessen | 18th Season |
2016 Championships
| 5th | 3 points |
Top Returners
- Linnea Wagner, So. | Has posted 8.88 meter throw in shot put & 9.48 meter toss in weight throw| Took 11th in shot put at 2016 Indoor Championships |
- Danica White, Jr. | Ran to seventh-best UMAC time in mile run (5:45.92) and in 3000-meter run (11:45.97) at Yellowjacket Open |
- Dominique Ward, Jr. | Long distance specialist for Eagles – ran a 13:24.86 in 3000-meter run at Yellowjacket Open |
- Vanessa Whyte, So. | Will provide depth in mid-distance runs | 13th in 800-meter run at 20616 Indoor Championships |
Top Losses
- Alyssa Arends | Elite distance runner for UNW
- Lisa Greenslade | Was a mid-distance specialist for the Eagles
Need to Know
- UNW returns all performers who scored for them at last year’s Indoor Championships.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Glen Drexler | 6th season |
2016 Championships
| 3rd | 126.5 points |
Postseason: Svenja Ruehl qualified for nationals
Top Returners
- Taylor Phillips, So. | 2015-16 All-UMAC | 2016 UMAC: 2nd – shot, weight |2017 UMAC: 1st - shot, 2nd - weight |
- Kelli Praska, So. | 2015-16 Track Athlete of the Meet | 2015-16 All-Central Region (800m Run) | 2016 UMAC: 1st – 400m Dash, 800m Run, and Mile Run |2017 UMAC: 3rd – 800m, 10th - mile |
- Valerie Rowe, So. | 1x UMAC Track Athlete of the Week (2016-17) | 2016 UMAC: 3rd – 4x200m Relay, 4x400m Relay, pole vault |2017 UMAC: 1st – 200m, 6th – 400m, 6th – 60m Hurdles, 2nd – pole vault |
- Svenja Ruehl, Jr. | 2015-16 Field Athlete of the Meet | 2015-16 All-Central Region (long jump/triple jump) | 2016 UMAC: 1st - high jump, long jump |2017 UMAC: 1st – long jump, 1st – triple jump, 5th - 60m hurdles |
- Sequoia Borner, Fy. | 2017 UMAC: 1st - 60m dash |
Top Losses
- Alissa Boyhtari | 2016 UMAC: 5th – 800m Run, 3rd – Distance medley |
- Kalley Wilkie | 2016 UMAC: 10th – Mile run, 3rd - Distance medley |
- Silene John | 2016 UMAC: 6th – 60m Dash |
Need to Know
- Taylor Phillips, Valerie Rowe, and Svenja Ruehl have each earned UMAC Athlete of the Week honors during the 2016-17 campaign
- The Yellowjackets currently rank first in the UMAC in four events: 60-meter run, long jump, triple jump, and shot put