Minnesota State claims top spot in NSIC 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Minnesota State University, Mankato, fresh off its first NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championship, was picked to win the NSIC in the preseason women's outdoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received all 14 first place votes and tallied 196 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana University and the University of Mary, which tied for second with 176 points. Winona State was picked fourth with 157 points while Minnesota Duluth rounded out the top five as the Bulldogs garnered 137 points.  

Winona State's Lindsay Cunningham was picked as the preseason track athlete of the year while Concordia-St. Paul's Arika Robinson was named the preseason field athlete of the year. 

The 2022 NSIC outdoor track & field season gets underway the last weekend of March with the regular season culminating on Thursday-Saturday, May 12-14 at the NSIC Championships held at Swisher Field in Aberdeen, South Dakota, hosted by Northern State University.

• Finished 7th overall in the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country finals
• Won every regular-season cross country race she entered and the NSIC and NCAA Central Region events
• Set two Winona State records during the indoor T&F season and is now the all-time WSU leader in the 5,000 and 3,000 meters
• Qualified for 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, finishing fifth overall in the 5000 meters

• Became CSP track & field's first ever National Champion in the indoor high jump
• First Team All-America in the high jump and Second Team All-America in the pentathlon
• NSIC champion and record holder in the indoor high jump
• Cleared 5-11.5 to set a new school record in the high jump, registering the 11th best height in DII history
• Three-time qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships

NSIC TEAM PREVIEWS & ATHLETES TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY

Last season, the Vikings placed third scoring 90 points. The women add 14 newcomers combined with 31 returners from last year’s roster. Augustana returns two NSIC Champions in Rebekah Rairdon (3,000m steeplechase) and Mearah Miedema (high jump). Additionally, the Vikings return six All-Conference performers from last outdoor season highlighted by Megan Means (5,000m & 10,000m) and Patty Jo English (1,500m & 5,000m). 

Cami Streff (Distance, R-So., Madison, S.D. / Chester Area HS)

• Indoor school record holder in the 800m (2:09.61)
• Two-time First Team All-American (DMR 2021, DMR 2022)
• Placed 18th in the 800m at the NCAA Indoor nationals

Mearah Miedema (HJ, Jr., Sioux Falls,  S.D. /  Washington HS) 

• 2021 NSIC Outdoor Champion in the high jump (5-9.75)
• Broke the NSIC Outdoor Championships record in the high jump (5-9.75)
• No. 2 on Augustana’s all-time list in the high jump

BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY

Bemidji State Track & Field comes off its second straight top-eight finish at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships while beginning its 2022 season March 26 at the Saint John’s Invitational. The Beavers return student-athletes from four point-scoring events from the 2021 conference meet, including senior Aneesa Tucker in the heptathlon, sophomore Emily Curtice in the javelin, the 4x400m relay team of Janice Cole, Ryne Prigge, Tucker and Maryse Mbenoun, and BSU’s Field Athlete to Watch senior Analise Fabre in the triple jump. Fabre set a personal record in the event at the conference outdoor meet with a sixth-place leap of 11.45m. BSU’s Track Athlete to Watch, sophomore sprinter Rachel Myers, enters her first season outdoors with the Beavers after helping BSU’s indoor 4x400m relay team set a program record with a fourth-place time of 3:57.09 at the 2022 NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Myers holds personal records of 12.91 in the 100m dash, 25.38 in the 200m dash and 57.75 in the 400m dash, set with Dixie State University.

Head Coach Kevin Kean, entering his seventh season leading Bemidji State, helped the team earn 14 2021 Spring NSIC All-Academic Team selections, including eight on the All-Academic Team of Excellence. The program saw seven records broken last season, including marks set by BSU’s 4x400m relay and sprint medley relays, Prigge in the 800m and 1,500m runs, and sophomore Mary Goodwin in the steeplechase.

Rachel Myers (Sprints/Relays, So., Lake George, Utah / St. George HS) 

• Begins first outdoor season with Bemidji State in 2022
• Part of BSU’s record-breaking 4x400m relay indoors
• Holds PRs of 12.91 in the 100m dash, 25.38 in the 200m dash and 57.75 in the 400m dash

Analise Fabre (Triple Jump, Sr., St. Charles, Minn. / St. Charles HS) 

• BSU’s indoor record holder in the triple jump
• Scored three points for BSU at 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships
• Set personal record in triple jump (11.45m) outdoors at 2021 conference meet

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL

After finishing with an 11th place finish in the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships, the Concordia-St. Paul women’s track and field team took a big step forward in the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships, collecting 32 points to bring home a seventh place finish. Playing a major role in the team’s success was their field athlete to watch, Arika Robinson. Robinson snagged a pair of NSIC titles, winning the pentathlon and setting the NSIC record in the high jump, before becoming the program’s first ever NCAA Champion as she took home the top spot in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Christabelle Mulcahy was named the track athlete to watch as she earned Second Team All-America honors in the 100m hurdles in the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships after taking second and setting a school record to earn All-NSIC honors in the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships. Sydney Jackson joined Robinson and Mulcahy as a point scorer in the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships as she took fifth in the 600 meter run while also joining forces with Mulcahy, Cece Lewis and Isabella D’Burke in the 4x400 meter relay to take seventh. CSP is scheduled to open the outdoor season at the ESU Relays on Mar. 25-26. Concordia will host the Holst Invitational on Apr. 23 at Sea Foam Stadium.

Christabelle Mulcahy (Hurdles/Sprints, Sr., Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater HS)

• Second Team All-America in the 100m hurdles in the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• Set the school record with an All-NSIC performance at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships
• Took sixth in the 60m hurdles and seventh in the 4x400m relay at the NSIC Indoor Championships
• Registered nine top-10 finishes in the indoor season

Arika Robinson (Heptathlon, High Jump, So., St. Paul, Minn. / Concordia Academy)

• Became CSP track & field's first ever National Champion in the indoor high jump
• First Team All-America in the high jump and Second Team All-America in the pentathlon
• NSIC champion and record holder in the indoor high jump
• Cleared 5-11.5 to set a new school record in the high jump, registering the 11th best height in DII history
• Three-time qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The defending Northern Sun women’s outdoor track & field champion University of Mary returns eight all-conference performers from last spring’s title team, including three conference champions. The Marauders hope their veteran contingent can add another title to the 10 UMary owns over the course of 14 seasons. 

The Marauders are looking for All-Americans Taylor Hestekin and Arianna Passeri to lead the way.  UMary’s Outdoor Track Athlete to Watch for 2022, Hestekin is a 5-time All-American, including twice outdoors. A senior from Scranton, ND, the middle distance runner has competed in eight NCAA championships, including cross country and both indoors and outdoors. She is a 4-time All-NSIC performer outdoors and won titles in the 800 in 2018 and the 1500 in 2019. Hestekin, who is an 11-time All-NSIC performer across all three seasons and a 3-time conference champion, placed third in the 1500 last spring. 

Passeri, the Marauders Outdoor Field Athlete to Watch in 2022, is coming off a tremendous indoor season. The junior from Rosemount, MN, earned 2nd team All-American honors in the long jump with an 11th place finish at the 2022 NCAA indoor championships. She finished third indoors to claim All-NSIC honors and posted NCAA qualifying marks in the triple and long jump. 

Elizabeth Acheson, D’Andra Morris and Faith Dockter will defend their NSIC titles this spring. Acheson claimed the 800 meter run championship last spring and is a 3-time All-American. Morris, the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, won the triple jump last spring for the second time in her career and finished second at the NCAA championships. A 6-time All-American, Morris won the NCAA indoor championship last weekend. Dockter won the javelin as a freshman last spring. 

Additional returning All-NSIC performers from last spring are Lacey Feist (10K), Tereza Bolibruch (100 meter hurdles), Cali Modglin (triple jump) and Nicole Kramchynsky (javelin). Modglin won the 2019 long jump title. 

Taylor Hestekin (800m/1500m, Sr., Scranton, N.D. / Hettinger-Scranton HS) 

• Five-time All-American, including two second team All-American honors outdoors
• Raced in eight NCAA championships (three cross country, three indoors, two outdoors)
• A four-time All-NSIC performer outdoors, including two conference titles (800 in 2018, 1500 in 2019)
• Overall an 11-time All-NSIC performer and a 3-time conference champion

Arianna  Passeri (Long Jump/Triple Jump, Jr., Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS) 

• Earned 2nd team All-American honors in the long jump with an 11th place finish at the 2022 NCAA indoor championships
• An All-NSIC performer after placing third in the long jump at the 2022 indoor championships
• Posted NCAA qualifying marks in both the triple jump and the long jump during the 2022 indoor season

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

The Minnesota Duluth Women's Track and Field team will begin their outdoor season on April 1 at the Wartburg Outdoor Select meet in Waverly, Iowa. The Bulldogs will look to improve upon their 6th-place outdoor finish from last season --- as they are led by fifth-year senior, Isabelle Brezinka and junior, Bryn London.  

Brezinka  has one the top returning times in the conference with an 800M PR of 2:12.19 posted last year. She has hit provisional qualifying marks indoors in the 800M already this indoor season and will be a key contributor in DMR and 4x4 relays. London, has posted top 20 NSIC marks in the high jump and in the pentathlon. She contributes in multiple events and is primed to have her highest level of success yet in the heptathlon outdoors. 

This season, the Bulldogs NSIC conference schedule will come to a close on May 12th as they will travel to Aberdeen, South Dakota for the NSIC Championships. The NCAA Championships follows during the May 26-28 dates in Allendale, Michigan.

Isabelle  Brezinka  (800m, Sr., Andover, Minn. / Anoka HS) 

• Set a personal best in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:50.51 at the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships
• Set a personal best in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:12.19 at the NSIC Outdoor Championships

Bryn London (High Jump/Heptathlon, Jr., Rockford, Minn. / Rockford HS) 

• Placed 8th and 19th in the two heptathlons that she competed in last season
• Hit personal best in the 200M race is 29.98 seconds, 800M race - 2:56.60, 60M hurdles - 9.59 seconds, 100M hurdles - 16.09 seconds, high jump - 1.60M, long jump - 4.8-meters, shot put - 9.95-meters, and the javelin throw - 25.83-meters
• Scored a career best in the pentathlon (2,831) and 3,658 in the heptathlon

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO

Coming off an indoor track and field season which saw the Mavericks claim their first national championship at the 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships and claimed their second consecutive NSIC title as a team. Minnesota State will look to recapture the NSIC Outdoor title for the first time since the 2016 season. With a group of student athletes that includes nine individual All-American and two national championships from the indoor season, the Mavericks look to build ?off their successes from the indoor season. Ja’Cey Simmons, an All-American in both the 100m and 200m, and Brea Perron, an All-American in the shot-put highlight the Minnesota State women’s track and field program as the track and field athletes to watch in the spring. 

Ja'Cey Simmons (100m/200m, So., Milwaukee Wis. / Wauwatosa West HS) 

• Returning NSIC Outdoor champion in 100m and 200m with times of 11.63 and 23.98, respectively
• Set career best in both events at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor championships
• Finished 7th and 12th at the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in the 100m and 200m. Earning All-American honors in both events

Brea  Perron (SP/HT, Sr., Waukesha, Wis. / Kettle Moraine HS) 

• Earned All-NSIC and All-American honors in the shot put finishing 5th at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor meet and 10th at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships
• All-NSIC honors in the hammer throw after 6th place finish at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor championships
• Set career best mark in the shot put last outdoor season at Winona State with a distance of 49' 9.75'' (15.18m)

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

MSUM will rely on senior Rachel Schumacher and sophomores Robynn Curry, Ashley Hokanson and Payton Lane for big contributions during the outdoor season. Schumacher has six career All-NSIC honors in the high jump; Hokanson was runner-up in the NSIC Indoor pole vault after losing a jump-off for the top spot. Curry will contribute in the sprints, particularly in the 400-meter dash, while Lane will look to be a factor in the distance events. Senior Anna Steadland also returns with experience in the sprints. 

Robynn Rolle-Curry (Sprints  So., Nassau, Bahamas / Kingway Academy) 

• Had two top eight finishes in 400m dash at 2021 NSIC Indoor and Outdoor 
• Won the 400m at Ron Masanz Classic outdoors
• Career-best time of 55.90 outdoors, recorded at NSIC Outdoor Championships in 2021 

Rachel Schumacher (High Jump, Sr., Bismarck, N.D. / Bismarck HS)

• Six-time All-NSIC performer in high jump 
• Finished third in the high jump at NSIC indoor to earn All-NSIC honors 
• Has a career indoor best of 5-6.5
• Had three indoor wins during season 

MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY

Minot State finished 15th at the 2021 Outdoor Championships as a team with 2.5 points. This season the Beavers return individual team scorer Amber Stevahn (high jump), a 1st Team All-NSIC women’s basketball player along with track athlete to watch Caitlin Cornell and field athlete to watch Jenna Hardy.  The Beavers will rely on the throws with the distance group and sprinters looking to score points this season as well. Minot State will open their season on March 26 at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open in Spearfish, South Dakota. 

Caitlin Cornell (Distance, So., San Marcos, Calif. / San Marcos HS)

• Holds the Minot State NCAA D-II era school record outdoors in the 5,000 meters (18:16.38)
• Holds the Minot State NCAA D-II era school record indoors in the 3,000 meters (10:22.92) and 5,000 meters (17:39.00)
• Earned 2021 NSIC All-All-Academic Team of Excellence on cross country
• Finished 8th in the 3,000 meters in 10:09.86 at the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships

Jenna Hardy (Throws, Fr., Minot, N.D. / Minot HS)

• Hit an NCAA D-II National indoor provisional qualifying mark in the shot put with a throw of 43-3.75
• Set the Minot State NCAA D-II era indoor school record in the shot put with a throw of 43-3.75 
• Turned in 9th-best NCAA D-II era indoor throw in weight throw of 48 feet, 1.75
• Competing in first outdoor track & field season 

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

The 2021-22 Northern State University men’s outdoor track and field team is coming off a fifth place finish at the NSIC Championships a season ago. The Wolves saw NSIC Championships from Dakota Hutzler and Kealy Hill in the heptathlon and pole vault. In addition, NSU tallied six all-conference performances from Duluth. Two Wolves qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the pole vault and high jump. Shanice Burrell and Shona Juliana were tabbed as the team’s athletes to watch for the 2022 season. Lynne Dingman begins her third season at the helm of the program and returns 25 from a season ago, while welcoming 11 newcomers. Northern opens the outdoor season at the University of South Dakota on April 2. The Wolves will host the Dewy Donat Classic, April 22-23, as well as the NSIC Championships, May 12-14, from the Swisher Activities Complex. Northern State opens their indoor slate December 4-5 at South Dakota State University.

Shanice Burrell (60m Hurdles, Sr., Buff Bay, Jamaica  / Buff Bay HS)

• Took fourth in the 100m hurdles at the 2021 NSIC Championships
• Was a member of the third place 4x100m relay and eighth place 4x400m relay
• Coming off her first NCAA Indoor Championships qualification in the 60m hurdles
• Finished as the NSIC runner-up in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.58

Shona Juliana (TJ/LJ/Relays/Sprints, So., Willemstad, Curacao / Kolegio Alejandro Paula) 

• Finished as the 2021 NSIC runner-up in the long jump with a school record mark of 5.72m (18-09.25)
• Placed fifth in the triple jump year ago with a school record 11.55m (37-10.75) jump
• She broke a 34-year-old school record with her triple jump performance

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

The USF Women's Track and Field Team will strive to better its seventh-place finish of a year ago when the Cougars scored 49 points and had three All-NSIC performances from five-time All-American Emma Hertz, who is USF’s Field Athlete to Watch. The USF Outdoor Track Athlete to Watch is Morgan Gehl, a talented freshman, who was All-NSIC in cross country and recorded USF's second-best clocking all-time indoors in the mile (5:03.03), 3,000 meters (10:10.35) and 5,000 meters (17:38.55).   

Hertz will lead the way in the throws and ranks as one of the best at USF. A five-time All-American, including placing third in the shot put at the 2022 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, Hertz has 50 top-five placings in the indoor and outdoor throws with 19 titles in her career. In the sprints, KaNya Henderson, who was all-American indoors two years ago, will lead the way in the 100 and 200 meters. She ranks first all-time at USF in the 100-meter dash (12.0) and the 200-meters (24.94) at USF all-time outdoors. Sophomore Emily Swanson will be a force in the field events (high jump) and multi-event (heptathlon). She had NCAA DII indoor provisional marks in both the pentathlon and high jump.  Also look for the women’s team to get big contributions from Gehl and Khot Juac (third all-time at USF, 1,500 meters, 4:40.62) in the races from the 1,500 to the 5,000 meters. Also, Emma Kenkel is a solid performer in the 400-meters while the group of Annika Aho, Gracie Bucher and Cassidy O’Meara will continue to shine in the mid distance. Aside from Swanson, Natalie Meyers should be a contributor in the jumps as she ranks fifth all-time in the long jump (18-8, 2021) while Kenna Comstock will contribute in the pole vault.  

Morgan Gehl (Distance, Fr., Fulda, Minn. / Fulda HS) 

• All-NSIC in Cross Country after placing 22nd at the NSIC Championships this past fall & was 31st the DII Central Regionals 
• At the NSIC Indoor championships, finished eighth in the mile with a 5:03.3 which ranks second all-time at USF 
• As a member of the record-setting Distance Medley Relay, set a school record in 12:06.02, placed fifth at the NSIC Indoor Championships and had an NCAA DII provisional mark  
• Ranks second all-time at USF in the indoor mile (5:03.3), 3,000 meters (10.10.35) and 5,000-meters (17:38.55), all set this winter  

Emma Hertz (Throws, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D. / O’Gorman HS)

• Five-time All-American, finished a program-best and personal-best third in the shot put at the NCAA DII Indoor Track and Field  
• Owns USF school record in all five throws (shot put weight throw – indoors; hammer throw, shot put, discus – outdoors)   
• Record 50 top-four finishes and 27 titles while finishing second 10 or more times in throws indoors or outdoors 
• Earned All-NSIC in all three outdoor throws a year ago with third in the shot put, third in the discus and second in the hammer throw   
• Six-time qualifier indoor or outdoors for NCAA DII Championships 
• Has the 10 best shot put throws all-time at USF with a best of 52-2 in the shot put, 175-10 in the discus throw, 184-10 in the hammer throw and 64-7.75 in the weight throw  

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Southwest Minnesota State women’s indoor track & field team, under the direction of third-year head coach Kirk Nauman, enters the 2022 outdoor continuing to build the program and keep moving up the standings at the NSIC Championship. 

Sophomore Isatu Shirek had an outstanding 2022 indoor season and will look to carry that momentum into the outdoor season as she placed fourth in the 60m hurdles at the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships. 

Freshman Shealyn Tom had an outstanding indoor season in the pole vault and will compete for team points at the NSIC meet this spring.

Isatu Shirek (Hurdles, So., Thompson, N.D. / Thompson HS) 

• Placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships at 8.71
• Holds school record in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles 
• Competed in the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships

Shealyn Tom (Pole Vault, Fr., Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda HS) 

• In first indoor season, set school record in the pole vault at 3.28m

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

St. Cloud State Track & Field will look to build off built-up momentum and improve off its ninth-place finish at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships and an 11th-place finish at the 2022 NSIC Indoor Championships. The Huskies return three individual scorers and two relay teams that scored at last year’s NSIC Outdoor meet, including junior Gracie Elsenpeter who scored in the 100m hurdles and the pole vault, as well as jumpers Emelia Burris and Parker Buske, who scored in the long jump and triple jump, respectively. Joining that trio of Huskies will be junior Cheresa Bouley, an All-NSIC performer in cross country, and Minnesota transfer Hannah Arason, who is a multi-time medalist in multi-events at Big Ten meets. 

Cheresa Bouley (800m/1500m/5000m, Jr., Zimmerman, Minn. / Zimmerman HS) 

• Earned All-NSIC Second Team honors at the 2021 NSIC Cross Country Championships with a 16th-place finish at 22:41.9
• Set a 6K personal-best at the 2021 NCAA D-II Central Region Championships, finish 34th at 21:59.5
• Finished 15th in the 1500m (4:43.36) and set a personal record in the 5000m (18:21.85) at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships
• Has also posted personal best marks of 4:42.84 in the 1500m and 2:19.91 in the 800m

Hannah Arason (Heptathlon/Javelin/High Jump, Sr., Grand Forks, N.D. / Red River HS) 

• Posted the sixth-best pentathlon mark in D-II in the 2022 indoor season with a score of 3,713 points at the Mark Schuck Open and Multi (Jan. 27-28, 2022)
• Finished 5th in Heptathlon at 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Championships (5,303 points), a mark which also was a personal-best
• Finished 7th in the Pentathlon at the 2021 Big Ten Indoor Championships (3,569 points)
• Has produced collegiate bests of 1.75m (5-8.75) in the high jump, 5.60m (18-4.5) in the long jump and 11.54m (37-10.5) in the shot put
• Transfer from the University of Minnesota

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY

The Peacock women’s indoor track and field team is anxious to get back on the track for the outdoor season. UIU will bring a ton of new talent to competitions this spring after placing 14th at the NSIC Indoor Championships last year in Duluth, Minn. Upper Iowa will turn to freshman Maddie Stevens on the track and sophomore Kiana Maghanoy in the field events, along with several other underclassmen looking to make their mark. Upper Iowa will start their 2022 season at Emporia State University from Thursday through Saturday, Mar. 24-26.

Maddie Stevens (Sprints/Mid-Distance, Fr., Nashua, N.H. / Nashua South HS) 

• During her first collegiate indoor season, placed sixth in the 400-meter race at the NSIC Indoor Championships in a time of 57.98 seconds
• Placed 15th in the 200-meter race in a time of 25.67 seconds, a UIU record, at the NSIC Indoor Championships

Kiana Maghanoy (Throws, So., Wailuku, Hawaii / Maui HS) 

• Set personal bests at the Spartan Invitational in late January in the shot put (10.97 meters) and weight throw (11.91 meters) during this past indoor season
• Set personal bests at the Wartburg Outdoor Select last April in the discus (37.80 meters) and the hammer throw (36.17 meters)

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE

The Wayne State women’s outdoor track and field team returns a pair of All-NSIC performers from last season and will be strong again in the throws area for the 2022 season, returning over 75 percent of points scored last season when the team placed 10th at the NSIC Outdoor Championships.  Graduate student Mckenzie Scheil is the reigning NSIC champion in the hammer throw and was the national runner up in the event last spring.  Senior Nicole Heeren was All-NSIC in the hammer throw last season with a third place finish while another senior, Jadin Wagner, also medaled in the event one year ago.  Scheil and junior Kendra Paasch also look strong in the shot put and medaling in the event last season.  The Wildcats are relying on a strong freshmen class of 11 recruits to gain experience and help score points in running events this season.  Wayne State opens the 2022 outdoor season March 25 and 26 hosting the Wildcat Classic in Wayne.  

Allie Rosener (3000 Steeple/Mid-distance, Sr., Newcastle, Neb. / Hartington-Newcastle HS)

• Placed ninth in 3,000 meter steeplechase last year
• Will also compete in 1,500 meter run
• Top finisher at every WSC cross country meet last fall

McKenzie Scheil (Throws, Gr., Fairmont, Neb. / Fillmore Central HS)  

• Reigning NSIC champion in hammer throw
• Placed 2nd in hammer throw at NCAA Championships last May
• NSIC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week twice last season
• NCAA national qualifier in shot put last season

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

After an outstanding fall distance season and record-breaking indoor track and field season, Winona State looks poised to make some noise this spring. 

Shereen Vallabouy is coming off an NCAA Division II championship performance in the 400-meter race and is a key component of the WSU 4 X 400 relay team which also qualified for the NCAA Division II indoor finals. That team, which includes Vallabouy, Kendall Zeman, Maddy Pietz, and Brooklyn Schyvinck

The distance events will be paced by Lindsay Cunningham, who has advanced to the national championships in NCAA Division II cross country and indoor track and field, as well as Kaylee Beyer who competed in the women's one-mile race at the NCAA II Indoor Championships. 

Field events will likely see Ashlie Lockington excel in the jumps for Winona State and two-sport standout Madison Rizner will lead the way in the WSU high jump competition, as well Kaylee Olson.  Michaela Pryor had a strong 2021 outdoor track and field season in the sprints and is ready to repeat that performance this year. 

As a team, Winona State finished 4th overall among 14 teams at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships. At the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field championships, WSU advanced the 4 X 400 relay team and the 4 X 100 relay team.  For 2022 and long-time head coach Mason Rebarchek, this spring will see the Warriors work to return to the sport's most prestigious stage. 

Lindsay Cunningham (Distance, So., Wis Dells, Wis. / Wis Dells HS)

• Finished 7th overall in the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country finals
• Won every regular-season cross country race she entered and the NSIC and NCAA Central Region events
• Set two Winona State records during the indoor T&F season and is now the all-time WSU leader in the 5,000 and 3,000 meters
• Qualified for 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, finishing fifth overall in the 5000 meters

Madison Rizner (Jumps, Sr., Richland Center, Wis. / Richland Center HS)  

• Two-sport athlete who was key in the 2021 WSU Volleyball NCAA Division II tournament qualification
• Tied for 6th place overall  in the high jump at the 2021 NSIC Outdoor Championships with a 1.62m (5-03.75) effort
• In the high jump, reached 1.68m (5’6”) at the Mark Schuck Dual Meet on Jan. 20, 2021, tying the WSU high jump all-time record in the event
• Claimed first place in both the triple jump and high jump at Bemidji State’s Craig Hougen Triangular last year.