March 1, 2008

Bemidji, MN – It was a clean sweep for the University of Mary Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field teams as both squads claimed 2008 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team indoor championships. This is the second straight year the U-Mary women have won the title. It is the first NSIC title for the men’s team.

While the women were the defending champion and expected to be in the running, the men’s title was a complete reversal from 2007. Last season, the men’s squad finished last in the conference meet.

U-Mary head coach Mike Thorson was named both the NSIC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year. It is the second time he has won that honor on the women’s side and the first time on the men’s.

Tyler Zacher, a freshman from Beulah, ND, earned the NSIC Men’s Newcomer of the Year honors for his effort in the triple jump and the long jump. Zacher won the triple jump with a distance of 47-04.5, which is a provisional qualifying distance for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. He took fourth in the long jump with an effort of 22-09.25.

The women won their 14th straight conference title – including championships from their NAIA days – when the Marauders outdistanced MSU Moorhead 177-131.

Kacie Sweep paved the way for the U-Mary title as she won both the 55 meter dash and the 200 meter dash. Her pace of 25.48 seconds set an NSIC record with a provisional qualifying time. A junior from Bismarck, Sweep also hit the provisional standard in the 55 meter dash.

Brianna Perry set an NSIC record in the long jump with an effort of 19-02.5, which automatically qualifies her for the national championships. The sophomore from Great Falls, MT, also tied for third in the high jump and placed fourth in the 55-meter hurdles. Earlier, Perry placed second in the women’s indoor pentathlon.

Destinee Keller also set an NSIC record while winning the triple jump. Keller, a senior from Beulah, ND, travelled 39-01.75 in her record-setting performance while making the provisional list. Keller also placed second in the long jump with a leap that also would have set a new conference mark if Perry hadn’t set the mark.

Other Marauders winning individual titles include Cassie Blazer in the 400 meter dash with a provisional qualifying time. The sophomore from Mandan, ND, also finished second in the 1,000 meter run. Freshman Alyson Piccolo (Stanwood, WA) won the 5,000 meter run and placed second in the one mile run.

Michelle Huxtable, a junior from Riverton, WY, claimed the 600 meter run title.

Other top finishers for U-Mary included a 2-3 finish in the 800 meter run for Hannah Moen (senior, Galesburg, ND) and Brandee Devine (sophomore, Bonney Lake, WA). Nicole Ackerman (sophomore, Sheridan, WY) was second in the pole vault. Ashley Grammens (Lavina, WY) placed third in both the triple jump and the pentathlon.

For the men, the championship is a return to tradition. Before slipping last season, the Marauders had won five indoor conference titles in six years before transitioning to NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun.

The Marauders won five different individual titles on the way to the team championship. U-Mary tallied 127 team points to finish just ahead of Northern State’s 111.5 points and 109 for Wayne State.

Tony Wood headlined the day for the Marauders as the senior from McCall, ID, set a conference record in the 600 meter run with a time of 1:21.65.

Jesse Piper, a junior from Osage, WY, placed first in the 55 meter hurdles. He also placed fifth in the 200 meter dash Matt Neff (Senior, Moose Jaw, SK) narrowly nipped teammate Kurt Rettig (senior, Medina, ND) to win the one mile run. Rettig also placed second in the 1000 meter run.

A sophomore from Sterling, WY, Jake Alexander won the high jump.

Other strong performers include Ben Jacobson, The freshman from Bismarck, ND, finished second in the weight throw and sixth in the shot put.

2008 NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championship Results

Today's Results and Final Meet Results

Men's New-comer of the Year: Tyler Zacher - University of Mary
Men's Coach of the Year: Mike Thorson - University of Mary
Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Joe Remitz - Bemidji State
Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Jake Hamik - Northern State

Men - Team Rankings - 18 Events Scored
1) University of Mary 127
2) Northern State 111.50
3) Wayne State College 109
4) Minnesota State University 79
5) Concordia University 75.50
6) Bemidji State 55

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Sheena Devine - Bemidji State Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Ashley Roemer - MSU - Moorhead Women's New-comer of the Year: Anna VanWechel - MSU - Moorhead Women's Coach of the Year: Mike Thorson - University of Mary

Women - Team Rankings - 18 Events Scored
1) University of Mary 177
2) Minnesota State University 131
3) Wayne State College 77.50
4) Bemidji State 54
4) Winona State 54
6) Northern State 33.50
7) Concordia University 31