For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Renea Taylor (Sprints/Hurdles, Gr., Malott, Wash. / Okanogan HS) – Northern State
- Competed in multiple events at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational
- Ran the second leg on the 4x100 relay that finished third with a time of 47.10 
- Helped set a new NSU school record in the 4x100 relay (47.10) 
- Ran 11.89 in the 100m finals to place seventh 

NSIC Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Bekah Walz (Pole Vault, Jr., Paynesville, Minn. / Paynesville Area HS) – Northern State
- Won the pole vault at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational
- Cleared 12-9.5 (3.90m) to earn an NCAA provisional qualifying mark
- Is tied for fourth in NCAA Division II this season 

Other Top Track Performances
Grace Brandt – UMary
- Won the 400m hurdles at the Marauders Outdoor Opener 
- Set a personal record with a time of 1:03.65 
- Currently ranks first in the NSIC in the event 
Emery Smith – Minot State
- Opened the outdoor season with a win in the 5,000 meters 
- Finished first with a time of 18:56.49 

Other Top Field Performances
Ruth Harris – Jamestown
- Won the pole vault at the Marauders Outdoor Opener with a personal-best clearance of 3.40m (11-1.75) 
- Finished second in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 10.94m (35-10.75) 
Ellie Feeney – UMary
- Placed second in the javelin at the Marauders Outdoor Opener 
- Set a personal record with a throw of 38.61m 
- Currently ranks second in the NSIC in the event 
Jamie Ward – Minot State
- Placed second in the discus in her collegiate outdoor debut with a throw of 136-7 
- Recorded the fifth-best discus mark in Minot State’s NCAA Division II era 
- Also competed in the shot put and hammer throw 
 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week
3/24/26
T:  Renea Taylor – Northern State
F: Bekah Walz – Northern State

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-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 126 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.