Men's Track and Field 2/22/2024 5:32:00 PM Brian Larson, Asst. Director of Athletics - Communication

Championship season here as Marauders prepared to compete for NSIC title Friday and Saturday

BISMARCK, ND – Championship season is here for the University of Mary men's and women's & field team as the Marauders head to the Northern Sun Indoor Track & Field Championships, set for Friday and Saturday, February 23-24, at Myers Field House in Mankato, MN.

Events begin on Friday at 9:30 am with heptathlon events followed by field events at noon and track events at 1 pm. Saturday has a 9 am pentathlon start followed by heptathlon events at 9:45 am. Field finals begin at 1 pm followed by track finals at 1:30 pm.

To follow online, visit www.goumary.com/coverage for links to video (pay-per-view) and live results. Fans attending the event can purchase tickets at the gate.

WOMEN'S PREVIEW
One of 14 teams pursuing the conference title, the Marauders enter championship weekend ranked 18^th in the nation in the latest USTFCCCA poll released earlier this week. UMary is third among NSIC programs, trailing only host Minnesota State and Winona State.

The Marauders own nine NSIC indoor championships, the last one in 2020.

The Marauders return several athletes who have earned All-NSIC honors at previous indoor championships:

Elizabeth Acheson won the 800 meter title in 2021 and 2022, won the 600 meter run in 2020 and earned all-conference honors on the 2022 4x400 meter relay team
Arianna Passeri was the runner-up in the long jump in 2023 and finished 3^rd in 2022 plus placd 3^rd in the triple jump in 2021
Morgan Hertz earned all-conference honors as part of the 2^nd place 4x400 meter relay team in 2022
Alysa Becker placed 2^nd in the 3000 and 3^rd in the 5000 meter runs in 2022

The Marauders have several performers who are ranked in the top eight in the NSIC (NCAA qualifying ranking):
Arianna Passeri

Long Jump – 1^st (3^rd NCAA)
60 meter dash – 3^rd (18^th NCAA)
Triple Jump – 5^th (15^th NCAA)

Elizabeth Acheson

600 meter run – 1^st
800 meter run – 1^st(5^th NCAA)
Mile run – 4^th

Alyssa Becker

5000 meter run – 3^rd (38^th NCAA)
3000 meter run – 4^th(42^nd NCAA)
Mile run – 5^th

Kristine Kalthoff

3000 meter run - 5^th (48^th NCAA)
Mile run – 6^th
5000 meter run – 8^th

Andrijana Fundak

5000 meter run – 6^th

Laila Cleare

60 meter dash – 5^th (37^th NCAA)
200 meter dash – 8^th

Morgan Hertz

600 meter run – 4^th

Tia Horning

60 meter hurdles 7^th
Pentathlon – 8^th

Grace Acheson

600 meter run – 5^th

Sakena Massiah

200 meter dash – 2^nd (25^th NCAA)
400 meter run – 4^th (60^th NCAA)

Tionce Walrond

200 meter dash – 3^rd (56^th NCAA)
60 meter dash – 7^th (27^th NCAA)

Mara Bruno

200 meter dash – 8^th
400 meter run – 7^th

Jerrica Pachl

High jump – 4^th (40^th NCAA)

Taylor Weidner

Long jump – 7^th (40^th NCAA)

MEN'S PREVIEW
The Marauders men's squad has several performers who have the opportunity to make an impact at the conference championships, including several who had podium finishes at the 2023 NSIC indoor championships.

Jorgen Paulson is UMary 's top finisher from last year, placing second in the 200 to earn NSIC All-Conference honors.

Other returners who placed last winter include Raheem Taitt-Best (7^th in 200) Joseph Patchen-Mills (4^th in 600), Hayden Von Wald (6^th in long jump) and Malakhi Stevenson (4^th in Heptathlon).

The Marauders have several performers who are ranked in the top eight in the NSIC (NCAA qualifying ranking):
Raheem Taitt-Best