For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 30, 2017
NSIC Media Relations

Minnesota State Selected as Preseason Favorite in NSIC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State University, Mankato were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason women's outdoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received 13 first place votes and tallied 192 points, ranking them ahead of the University of Mary (173) and Winona State (162). The Warriors and Augustana (fourth, 153 points) also received a first-place vote.

Sioux Fall's Courtney Crandall was selected as the preseason field athlete of the year while Minnesota Duluth's Emi Trost was named the preseason track athlete of the year. 

The 2017 NSIC outdoor track & field teams will compete in multiple events this spring, with the season culminating on Friday-Saturday, May 12-13 at the NSIC Championship held at Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota, hosted by Concordia University, St. Paul.
 

2017 Preseason Coaches' Poll	Points
1.      Minnesota State (13)	192
2.      University of Mary	173
3.      Winona State (1)	162
4.      Augustana (1)	153
5.      Minnesota Duluth	149
6.      Northern State	115
7.      Concordia-St. Paul	113
8.      MSU Moorhead	109
9.      Sioux Falls	98
10.   St. Cloud State	91
11.   Southwest Minnesota State	61
12.   Wayne State	58
13.   Bemidji State	44
14.   Minot State	39
15.   Upper Iowa	18
first place votes in ( )

NSIC Outdoor Track Preseason Athlete of the Year
Emi Trost
(Jr., Goodhue, Minn. / Cannon Falls HS)
Minnesota Duluth
- Outdoor 1,500 meter school record holder with a time of 4:23.46
- NSIC champion for the outdoor 1,500 meter run in 2015
- All-American in the outdoor 1,500 meter run in 2015 with a fourth place finish
- NSIC outdoor track and field athlete of the week (4/29/15)
- 2015 USTFCCCA All-Region for outdoor 1,500 meter run
- Most All-American accolades of any athlete in UMD history between outdoor & indoor track and field and cross country
- Has totaled nine All-American awards (five indoor, one outdoor and three cross country)
- Holds seven Bulldog records between outdoor and indoor track (indoor 600 meter run, indoor 800 meter run, indoor 1,000 meter run, indoor mile run, indoor 3,000 meter run, indoor DMR, and outdoor 1,500 meter run)
- 10 NSIC Individual Conference Champion titles between outdoor/indoor track and field and cross country
- 13 All-NSIC awards between outdoor/indoor track and field and cross country
- Two-time USTFCCCA Central Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year
- Was named NSIC Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year for 2016-17
- Did not compete in 2016 outdoor season due to injury

NSIC Outdoor Field Preseason Athlete of the Year
Courtney Crandall
(Sr., Rapid City, S.D. / Rapid City Central HS)
Sioux Falls
- 2016 NSIC Outdoor Women's Pole Vault Champion
- NSIC Outdoor Championship record holder at 4.08 meters (13-4.50)
- Outdoor personal best of 4.20 meters (13-9.25) set in 2016 season
- PR mark ranks as No. 6 all-time individual in NCAA Division II history
- 2016 NCAA Outdoor All-American and All-NSIC honoree
- Placed fifth at NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2016
- Two-time NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifier
- Five-time NCAA Championship qualifier in all seasons, two-time All-American
- 2017 NCAA Indoor National Champion with NCAA meet record 4.32m (14-2.00) mark
- 2017 NSIC Indoor Female Field Athlete of the Year
- Ranks No. 4 all-time in indoor Division II record books with 4.32m (14-2.00) mark

 

Augustana University Vikings

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
3rd	4th
Team Preview
The Vikings are picked to finish fourth in the conference after taking third last outdoor season. Augustana will return soph. Olivia Montez Brown who earned All-American honors in the heptathlon last season as well as All-Region and All-NSIC honors in the long jump and the heptathlon. The other returning All-Region honoree is Leah Seivert who earned the honor in the 5,000-meters and 10,000-meters. The Vikings also return five other All-NSIC honorees from last season, including track athlete to watch Emma Anderson. Kelsey Kaufmann is the preseason track athlete to watch for Augustana after sitting out last outdoor season as a redshirt, but is a two-time All-NSIC winner in the high jump during her outdoor career.
Athletes to Watch
– Emma Anderson (Sr., Sarona, Wis. / Shell Lake HS) – Kelsey Kaufmann (Sr., Arlington, S.D. / Arlington HS)
First Event
Friday, April 7 at Vance Butler/Rich Greeno Dual in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Bemidji State University Beavers

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
14th	13th
Team Preview
Building upon Head Coach Kevin Kean’s inaugural season at Bemidji State, the Beavers’ 2017 outdoor track and field team will be led by senior Alex Coleman and freshman Savannah Olson. Coleman, a multi-event athlete, is coming off an indoor season in which she posted BSU’s best marks in the 60-meter hurdles (9.28), high jump (5-1.25), long jump (17-9.5), competed on several relay teams and finished 10th in the NSIC pentathlon (3,115). A newcomer Olson used the indoor season to not only debut her college career, but also solidify herself as one of BSU’s top throwers. She took first in the shot put at four meets, placed 11th at the NSIC Championships in the and recorded BSU’s top mark in the event (42-0.75), while she posted a season-best 38-9.75 in the weight throw.
Athletes to Watch
- Alex Coleman (200m/Multis, Sr., Dayton, Ohio / Chaminade Julienne HS) - Savannah Olson (Throws, Fr., International Falls, Minn. / Falls HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Hamline Invite Meet – 11 a.m.

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
11th	7th
Team Preview
The CSP women’s track and field team will look to build off perhaps their best performance in the NSIC Indoor Championships as they put up their best point total since 2006 en route to a sixth place finish. Concordia’s trio of multi-event athletes played a major role in that point total as Wakpor Ighovojah, Kalle Burney and Erica Young had a hand in 31 of the team’s 45.66 points. Ighovojah and Burney both finished inside the top-3 in the pentathlon and earned trips to the NCAA Indoor Championships a few weeks ago as Ighovojah became the first female track and field athlete to be named an All-American. On the track, Erika Shady was named an athlete to watch after putting together a solid indoor season. The junior set PRs in the 60m, 200m and 300m in addition to competing in the pole vault throughout the year. She helped the 4x400m relay team earn three points in the NSIC Indoor Championships as well as finishing 13th in the 200m.
Athletes to Watch
- Erika Shady (Sprints, Jr., Esko, Minn. / Esko HS) - Wakpor Ighovojah (Multi-Event, Jr., Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Hamline Invitational

University of Mary Marauders

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
4th	2nd
Team Preview
After winning four straight conference meets and seven in nine seasons, the University of Mary women’s track & field team fell to fourth place last seson at the 2016 Northern Sun outdoor championships. The Marauders rebounded to take second at the 2017 indoor championships and look to be back in the hunt for the conference crown. Two-time national champion Alexis Zeis headlines the program. The 2015 NCAA cross country champion won the 5K indoor title this past March. The junior set conference records while winning the NSIC indoor 3K and 5K titles. One of the top sprinters and hurdlers in the country, All-American Tonie-Ann Pandohie will be in the running to earn a spot in the NCAA championships. Sophomore Maria Bolibruch will also be among the top hurdlers in the country. Both Pandohie and Bolibruch have already posted outdoor provo marks this season in the 100 hurdles. Kylie Pastian, Mary’s Field Athlete to Watch, claimed All-NSIC honors after placing third at the indoor championships in the triple jump with an NCAA provo mark. Freshman sprinter Tanesha Davis and sophomore distance runner Jaiden Schuette also will impact the squad.
Athletes to Watch
– Alexis Zeis (Distance, Jr., Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck HS) – Kylie Pastian (LJ/TJ, So., Hillsboro, N.D. / Hillsboro HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at NSIC Invite Meet – 9 a.m.

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
6th	5th
Team Preview
Head coach Joanna Warmington retains 38 letterwinners from a year ago, including reigning NSIC and NCAA II Central Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Emi Trost. Also back is 2016 NSIC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year Breanna Colbenson, an All-American senior who won the steeple chase and 10,000-meter events at last year’s conference championships. Sophomore Danielle Kohlwey returns as well to defend her NSIC 100-meter hurdle title. Among the other holdovers UMD will count on is Breanna Colbenson (distance), Danielle Kohlwey (hurdles), Elizabeth Kyes (middle distance), Paige DuBois (middle distance), and Michaela Hesse (jumps).
Athletes to Watch
- Emi Trost (Mid-Distance, Sr., Goodue, Minn. / Cannon Falls HS) - Katie Hawkinson (Jumps, So., White Bear Lake, Minn. / White Bear Lake HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Hamline Invitational Meet – 10 a.m.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	20117 Preseason Poll
1st	1st
Team Preview
The Mavericks will enter the 2017 outdoor season looking to repeat as NSIC champion.  The squad returns All-American Altoniece Williams who claimed the indoor national championship a few weeks ago in the hurdles.  Minnesota State will once again be on the road for all but two events this season meaning travel will play a large role in the season before the NSIC championship multis will be hosted in Mankato along with the Twilight Open the following weekend.  Head Coach Jim Dilling will look to continue the program’s success and growth after the Mavericks sent eleven athletes to indoor nationals in Birmingham, Alabama, just a couple of weeks ago.
Athletes to Watch
- Altoniece Williams (Hurdles, Sr., Miami, Fla. / Northwestern HS) - Khadiya Hollingsworth (High Jump, So., Brookfield, Wis. / Brookfield East HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Hamline Invitational

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
7th Place	8th
Team Preview
Led by indoor All-American Katrina Mellegard the Dragon women go into the outdoor season with some key returnees. That includes senior Molly Montonye, a three-time All-American in track and field and one of the league’s top distance runners. Juniors Caroline Jansen and Bailey Reiner also return in the jumps while senior MaKenzie Smith is back in the distance events.
Athletes to Watch
- Katrina Mellegard (Throws, Sr., Rapid City, S.D. / Central HS) - Molly Montonye (Distance, Sr., Graceville, Minn. / Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley HS)
First Event
March 31-April 1 at Mustang Open, Marshall, Minn.

Minot State University Beavers

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
12th	14th
Team Preview
Minot State finished 12th overall at 2016 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outdoor Championship. MISU is led by transfer Jana Warrick-Jones and freshman Shae Pedersen. Warrick-Jones ran at NCAA Division I Southern Utah before coming to Minot State. She made an immediate impact on MISU’s distance team, earning the Beavers top spot at the NSIC cross country meet and the Central Region Championships. She scored all of MISU’s points at the NSIC Indoor meet, taking eighth in the women’s 800-meters, racing to a time of 2:20.2. Pedersen is a jump specialist as she finished 18th in her first indoor championships with a leap of 5.16-meters in the long jump. MISU scored points in the 2016 outdoor championships in the 4x100 relay and were just outside the podium in the 4x400 relay and will again look to the relays to score points in 2017.
Athletes to Watch
- Jana Warrick-Jones (Distance, Jr., Eastvale, Calif. / Eleanor Roosevelt HS) - Shae Pedersen (Jumps, Fr., Calgary, Alberta / Centennial HS)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, March 31-April 1 at Southwest Minnesota State Open – 9 a.m.

Northern State University Wolves

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
5th	6th
Team Preview
The Wolves finished up the indoor season NCAA Championships with two student-athletes competing in Sasha Hovind and Hanneke Oosterwegel. Hovind earned All-American second team honors for the Wolves in the 5000m run. The Wolves finished seventh as a team on the women's NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships in late February. Dakotah Bullen and Michaela Schlecht were picked as the Northern State track and field athletes to watch. Bullen enters her senior campaign after an NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance in 2016. She competed in the 10,000m run finishing 13th overall with a time of 35:16.70. Schlecht enters the outdoor season as a top-10 finisher in the javelin from the NCAA Championships in 2016. The senior finished sixth with a 34.56m toss. The Wolves will continue the outdoor season April 6-8 at the Northwest Missouri State NSIC vs. MIAA meet.
Athletes to Watch
- Dakotah Bullen (Distance, Sr.,  St. Francis, Minn. / St. Francis HS) - Michaela Schlecht (Throws, Sr., Watertown, S. D. / Great Plains Lutheran HS)
First Event
Friday-Saturday, April 17-18 at Jerry Quiller Invite – All Day

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
9th	9th
Team Preview
Sioux Falls looks to carry the momentum of an extremely successful indoor season into the outdoor campaign. The Cougars set numerous school records and all-time top-10 marks in the indoor season and return many top performers from their ninth-place team at last year’s NSIC Outdoor Championships. Led by their pole vaulters, USF placed four in the top eight of the women’s indoor pole vault and Courtney Crandall returns to defend her title after setting the meet record in victorious fashion last season and comes off an indoor national title three weeks ago. The Cougars scored a large portion of their NSIC Outdoor Championship points in the women’s throws, led by Ashley Ostrem. Sprinters Jessica Justin and Sarah Troescher reset the USF record books during the indoor season and have their sights set on an equally impressive outdoor campaign. Jada Carr qualified for her first NCAA Championship meet in the long jump this past indoor season and she enters as one of the top long jumpers in the league.
Athletes to Watch
- Sarah Troescher (Sprints, Fr., Arcadia, Calif. / Arcadia HS) - Courtney Crandall (Pole Vault, Sr., Rapid City, S.D. / Central HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 8 vs. Augustana (Vance Butler/Rich Greeno Dual)

Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
10th	11th
Team Preview
Junior Kim Shabino is one of SMSU’s top returners in the sprints, while senior Rylee Armstrong will look to earn All-NSIC honors in jumping events. Senior Hannah Palmeter, who earned All-NSIC honors in the 1,500 meters in 2016, will redshirt this season.
Athletes to Watch
- Kim Shabino (Sprints, Jr..  Spencer, Iowa / Spencer HS) - Angela Prokosch (Throws, Jr., Redwood Falls, Minn. / Wabasso HS)
First Event
Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at Mustang Open

St. Cloud State University Huskies

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
8th	10th
Team Preview
St. Cloud State outdoor track and field team will be led by a pair of seniors this season. Senior distance runner Sam Sunstrom will anchor the team’s track program. Sunstrom was a Second Team All-American during outdoor season last season in the 5,000. Earlier this season, Sunstrom was an  USTFCCCA Cross Country All-American after placing 34th overall nationally in the event. She is the school’s record holder in the outdoor 10,000m. Sunstrom also was an NSIC All-Conference selection during the 2017 indoor season in the 5,000m. Senior Patience Yalartai, who is coming off an All-American campaign in the triple jump during indoor season, is the leader in the field events for SCSU. During indoor season this season, Yalartai won both the triple and the long jump. She is a 4x All-Conference selection in the indoor triple jump and a 3x indoor long jump all-conference selection Yalartai finished second in the NSIC in the outdoor triple jump last season.
Athletes to Watch
- Sam Sunstrom (Distance, Sr. Sauk Rapids, Minn. / Sauk Rapids HS) - Patience Yalartai (Jumps, Sr., Bloomington, Minn. / Kennedy HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Hamline Invite – 10:30 a.m.

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	20117 Preseason Poll
15th	15th
Team Preview
The Peacocks begin their second year of outdoor track at the NCAA Division II level, bringing back the program to the university after a 12-year hiatus. Upper Iowa was picked 15th in the Northern Sun Conference in 2017, after their 15th-place finish a season ago. UIU brings back eight returners from last year’s roster, including senior Chandra Smith, the track athlete to watch for the Peacocks. Upper Iowa also returns senior MeKenzie Coppage in distance, sophomores Erica Kelly, Cami Pickett, Bronwyn Miller, and Gabbie Mohs in sprints, sophomore Bridgett Madden in throws, and sophomore Alyssa Weber in distance. UIU brings in seven new faces to the lineup, including field athlete to watch, freshman Brinn Grunder in throws. Breyanna Hill, Caitlin Himes, Shania Kappes, Ashley Brady, and Kenzie Soeken are also among the freshmen who will get their first taste of outdoor track as well this spring.
Athletes to Watch
- Chandra Smith (Distance, Sr., Bloomfield, Iowa / Davis County HS) - Brinn Grunder (Throws, Fr., Durant, Iowa / Durant HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Dingels/Brueggen Open (Winona, Minn.) – 9 a.m.

Wayne State College Wildcats

2016 NSIC Championship Finish	2017 Preseason Poll
13th	12th
Team Preview
Wildcats look to improve on last year’s finish and be especially strong in the throws.  WSC returns NSIC Discus Champion and national qualifier Kacie O’Connor along with junior Michaela Dendinger, who missed last season with an injury after earning All-American honors in the discus (2nd) and shot put (7th) as a sophomore in 2015.  O’Connor peaked at the end of last year’s outdoor season after playing women’s basketball and won the discus with a mark of 158’ 7”.
Athletes to Watch
- Melissa Kroll (Sprints, Sr., Dunlap, Iowa / Boyer Valley HS) - Michaela Dendinger (Throws, Jr., Coleridge, Neb. / Hartington Public HS)
First Event
Saturday, April 1 at Emporia State Relays

Winona State University Warriors