For Immediate Release
Monday, April 29, 2024
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Andrew Martens (Hurdles. Jr.., Sioux Falls, S.D. / Lincoln HS) – Augustana
- At the Drake Relays, Martens played a key role in a multitude of events
- Ran the 400m hurdles in 42.64
- Was part of the 4x100 that ran 42.64
- In the 110m hurdles, placed third in 13.97 in the prelims 
- In the finals, ran 13.56, which is a school record and third best time in nation
- Named NSIC Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season (4/9/24)

NSIC Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Dylan Kneifl (HJ, Sr., Pilger, Neb. / Wisner-Pilger HS) – Wayne State
- Tied school record clearing 7-0.25 (2.14m) at the Drake Relays to place second
- NCAA provisional mark now ranks first in NSIC
- The jump is tied for 10th best in NCAA Division II this season

Other Top Track Performances
Raheem Taitt-Best (UMary)
- Posted a pair of school records at the UMary Classic
- Won the 200m to cross the finish line in NCAA Provisional Qualifying time of 20.92
- Ranks 17th in nation in the 200m
- Combined with Jorgen Paulson, Akil Howell and Michael Cartwright to complete the 4x100 meter relay 
- Ran an NCAA provisional time of 40.71, to rank 39th in nation
Jabez Reeves (MSU)
- Helped MSU win the sprint medley relay at Drake Relays in 3:27.79
- Was part of the 4x100m relay team which finished second with time of 39.96
- The relay time ranks third in the nation
- Part of 4x400m relay team which also finished second in 3:10.73, which ranks 14th in the nation
-  Was fourth in 100m dash with time of 10.57
Ibrahim Oduong (MSUM) 
- Placed third in Friday's 400m dash at the Drake Relays with a time of 47.34
- The NCAA provisional time is now the fastest in the NSIC this season
Ramon Duran (MINOT)
- Won the 400-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 53.44 at the UMary Tune Up 
- Ranks third in the NSIC this season
-  Also helped the Beavers 4x400-meter relay team to victory in 3:26.10 at the meet
Josh Martin (NSU) 
- Won the 1500m at the Kip Janvrin Open
- Tallied a time of 3:54.74
- His time ranks in the top-10 of the NSIC, sitting seventh overall

Other Top Field Performances
Calder Erick (CSP) 
- Hit an NCAA provisional qualifying mark and a PR in the decathlon with 6401 points in the Drake Relays
- Took fourth in the events
- Finished in the top five in all four running events, including a third-place result in the 400m
- Set PRs in both the 400m and 1500m
- Ranks 25th in the nation and first in the NSIC in the decathlon
Hayden Von Wald (UMary)
- Placed 5th at the Drake relays in the long jump
- Cleared 7.34 meters for an NCAA provisional qualifying mark
- Only NCAA Division II jumper in championship finals
- Ranks 14th in nation  
Onyekachi Ukaobasi (MSU) 
- Second in the University/College Division in triple jump at 15.18m (49-09.75) at Drake Relays
- Mark ranks 11th in Division II outdoor track & field this season
Levi Reis (NSU) 
- Took seventh in the javelin at the Drake Relays, competing in the university/college champions division
- Tossed 58.07m as the only Division II competitor in the field
 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week
4/2/24
T: Jabez Reeves – Minnesota State
F: Shemar Miller – Minnesota State 
4/9/24
T: Andrew Martens – Augustana
F: Tyler Hiatt – Sioux Falls
4/16/24
T: Jabez Reeves – Minnesota State (2)
F: James Gilbert – Minnesota State 
4/23/24
T: Raheem Taitt-Best – University of Mary
F: Carter Aguilera – Minnesota State
4/29/24
T: Andrew Martens – Augustana (2)
F: Dylan Kneifl  – Wayne State


About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 15-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 113 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.