MANKATO, MN – The first day of the NSIC Championships went well for the University of Mary women's track and field team. The Marauders are currently in second place as a team heading into the final day, claiming a relay victory and multiple All-Conference finishes on Friday.

For the second consecutive year, the Marauders were victorious in the Distance Medley Relay. Giselle Jahner ran the initial 1200m leg in 3:38.13, narrowly trailing Duluth. Freshman Kate Van Erp pushed UMary in front with a 59.02 400m leg. Amber Rosemeier ran the 800m leg in 2:24.48 and the Marauders went into the final leg trailing Duluth by nearly 5 seconds. Kristine Kalthoff made up that gap and then some in the final 1600m, running a 4:58.02 to win the race by over 3 seconds.

Kalthoff was also All-NSIC in the 5000m with a 17:22.45, placing 2^nd in the race. Freshman Faith Jepchumpba followed in 5^th place at 17:39.97 to score conference points.

Anna Bruno earned All-NSIC honors with a 3^rd-place finish in the Long Jump, tying her season-best jump at 5.90m. That ranks 29^th in the nation this season.

Tayen Werner and Kelescia Downes both successfully qualified for tomorrow's 400m finals. Werner is the top seed with a time of 56.20. Downes advance with the third-best time of the prelims, finishing at 57.21.

Bernadette Belzer moved on to tomorrow's 600m finals with a 1:38.15, placing 5^th in the prelims.

Laila Cleare will have a chance to defend her NSIC Championship in the 60m finals tomorrow after advancing with the second-best time of the prelims, a 7.52. Cleare also advanced to the 200m finals, leading the prelims at 24.73.

Amber Rosemeier will represent UMary in the 800m finals, owning the 7^th-best time of the prelims at 2:18.43.

Terez Wycklendt qualified for the 1000m finals, placing 6^th in the prelims at 2:59.83.

Full results from Day 1 of the NSIC Championships can be found here with the current team standings below:

Minnesota State University – 77.33
University of Mary – 28
Northern State University – 27.33
Wayne State College – 20.33
University of Minnesota Duluth – 18
Winona State University – 17
St. Cloud State University – 13.5
University of Sioux Falls – 9.5
Southwest Minnesota State University – 5
Concordia University, St. Paul – 5
Augustana University – 5
Minnesota State University Moorhead – 4
Bemidji State University – 4
University of Jamestown – 0
Minot State University – 0

The final day of the conference meet will begin tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. with the first events of the Pentathlon.

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