For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 14, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
Kelescia Downes (Sprints, So., Bridgetown, Barbados / Combermere HS) – University of Mary
- Won first individual NSIC title in 200m with time of 23.90
- Finished runner-up in the 400m at NSIC Championships with time of 54.55
- Member of runner-up 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams
- Earned All-NSIC honors in four events
- Scored 22 team points at NSIC Championships
- Set to compete at NCAA Championships in 200m as 16th seed
- Will also compete at nationals as member of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays

NSIC Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
Miranda Lauvstad (Jumps, Sr., Nesoeya, Norway / Norges Toppidrettsgymnas) - Minnesota State
- Won the long jump at the NSIC Championships with a jump of 6.11m (20-0.5)
- Earned NSIC High Point Performer at the NSIC Outdoor Championships with 26 points
- Has the best mark in the long jump in Division II with a jump of 6.58m (21-7)
- Has the third best score (5,671) in the heptathlon in Division II this season
- Named the NSIC Field Athlete of the Week twice during the outdoor season
- Will compete in the long jump, heptathlon and the 4x400 relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships

NSIC Women’s Newcomer of the Year
Siena Lambert (Throws, So., San Diego, Calif. / JSerra Catholic HS / Texas State) - University of Mary
- Earned All-NSIC honors in the hammer throw, placing third
- Throw of 52.07m at NSIC Championships set school record
- Became first UMary women's non-javelin thrower to ever score points at NSIC Championships

NSIC Women’s Freshman of the Year
Lexi Urbick (Hurdles, Fr., Winona, Minn. / Winona HS) - Winona State
- Won the 400-meter hurdles in a career-best time of 59.00 at the NSIC Outdoor Championships
- Ranked first in the Central Region and 11th nationally in the 400m hurdles
- Was part of the 2026 Outdoor NSIC Championship 4x400 Relay Team
- Ranked 10th in the Central Region in the 100m hurdles
- Has won five individual races this spring

NSIC Women’s Assistant Coach  of the Year
Chris Lessard  (Throws) – University of Mary
- Led UMary distance group that scored 55 points at NSIC Championships
- Led three individual distance champions in Amber Rosemeier (800m), Kristine Kalthoff (5000m), and Faith Jepchumba (10000m)

NSIC Women’s Coach  of the Year
Cale Korbelik – University of Mary 
- Led UMary to a second place finish at the NSIC Outdoor Championships
- Coached 19 All-NSIC performers, including six individual champions, six All-NSIC athletes, and two All-NSIC relay teams
- Coached seven student-athletes to USTFCCCA All-Region honors

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 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 116 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.