May 10, 2008

Wayne, NE – The University of Mary women’s outdoor track and field team has only been a member of the Northern Sun for two seasons, but the Marauders are perfect in their quest for conference titles. U-Mary claimed its second consecutive outdoor title in two tries today when the Marauders rolled to 214.5 points, 69.5 points more than second-place Minnesota State University Moorhead.

The U-Mary men’s team made a furious rally at a title of its own but fell just short. In fourth place and trailing eventual champion Wayne State by 44.5 points after day one, the Marauders finished second, just 7.5 points behind the Wildcats.

Kacie Sweep earned Northern Sun Women’s Track Athlete of the Year honors after winning three titles The junior from Bismarck, ND, won both the 100 and 200 meter dashes and ran the second leg on the winning 4x100 meter relay. She met the NCAA provisional qualifying standards when she finished the 200 meter dash in 24.72 seconds.

For the second straight year, Mike Thorson was named the NSIC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Under his direction, U-Mary has won four consecutive conference titles and 13 in 14 years.

U-Mary women’s outdoor track and field 2008 NSIC champions:

Kacie Sweep (100 and 200 meter dash)

Alyson Piccolo (10,000 meter run)

Holly Hassler (javelin)

Destinee Keller (triple jump)

4x100 meter relay (Cassie Blazer, Kacie Sweep, Mishay Weber, Kristen Stewart)

U-Mary men’s outdoor track and field 2008 NSIC champions:

Jesse Piper (110 meter hurdles)

Russ Neff (1,500 meter run)

Jake Alexander (pole vault)

4x100 meter relay (Chris Faller, Jordan Puhalla, Luke Schander, Jesse Piper)

4x800 meter relay (Chris Ogle, Mark McGlaughlin, Russ Neff, Tony Wood

2008 NSIC Men’s Championship results:
http://www.wscwildcats.com/Pdfs/mtrack/2008/5/10/08nsicmensfinal_051008.pdf

Women’s Championship results:
http://www.wscwildcats.com/Pdfs/wtrack/2008/5/10/08nsicwomen_final_051008.pdf