Burnsville, MN – After a spectacular weekend by the University of Mary women's track and field team during which the Marauders captured their fourth Northern Sun outdoor championship in six years, today U-Mary was honored with two major individual honors from the conference. Melissa Agnew was named the NSIC Women's Track Athlete of the Year and Mike Thorson was selected the NSIC Women's Coach of the Year.
 
The 8^th-ranked Marauders also had 15 student-athletes combine to win 21 All-NSIC citations.
 
Agnew turned in a pair of incredible performance at the 2012 NSIC Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, setting two conference records in the span of 50 minutes. The junior from Onamia, Minn., captured the 1,500 meter run in a blazing time of 4:22.40 to establish a new NSIC mark. The six-time All-American followed up 50 minutes later with a time of 2:08.99 in the 800 meter run, setting another NSIC record. An automatic qualifier for the NCAA championships in both events, Agnew is currently ranked third in the nation in each category. She now holds three conference records after setting a new standard in the 1,000 meter run at the 2012 NSIC indoor championships.
 
Thorson earned his fourth NSIC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year honors after the Marauders captured the 2012 conference crown in dominating fashion. U-Mary posted 200.5 points and held an 86.5 point edge over runner-up Winona State. The 2012 championship is the fourth title for the Marauders in six years since U-Mary joined the NSIC, previously winning in 2007, 2008 and 2010. U-Mary had a clean sweep in track and field this spring, earlier winning the 2012 league indoor title for the fourth time.
 
Melissa Walker and Kathryn Stewart headline the All-Northern Sun performance list for the Marauders as both earned league recognition in three events each. Walker claimed titles in the long and triple jumps and placed third in 100 meter hurdles. Stewart finished in the top three in the NSIC in the 200 and 400 meter runs and as a member of the 4x400 relay team.
 
Student-athletes earn All-NSIC honors by placing in the top three in an individual event or the top two on a relay team.
 
Jennifer Agnew – 3,000 meter steeplechase, 5,000 meter run
Melissa Agnew - 1500 meter run*, 800 meter run*
Miranda Fehilly – Pole Vault*
Vanessa Friestad – Javelin*
Megan Jenkins – 4x400 meter relay
Janet Johnson – 100 meter hurdles
Tess Johnson – Heptathlon, High Jump,
Brianna Lynch – 4x400 meter relay
Alicia Nehl – 3,000 meter steeplechase
Kristyn Nelson – 100 meter hurdles*
Allison Opp – Triple Jump
Rikki Schmidt – 400 meter run*, 4x400 meter relay
Kathryn Stewart – 400 meter run, 200 meter dash, 4x400 meter relay
Melissa Walker – 100 meter hurdles, Long Jump*, Triple Jump*
Dakota Wolf – 5,000 meter run, 1,500 meter run

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