Complete Results

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Led by two individual champions, twelve All-Conference performances and a fifth place distance medley relay, the Northern State University men's track and field squad finished fifth at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Bemidji State University on Friday and Saturday.

The women's squad, behind junior Amanda Madden's weight throw title and four total All-Conference efforts, finished in ninth place in what has proven to be a highly competitive league championship meet.

The Northern men, who were in third place after capitalizing on solid performances in the men's high jump on Friday, slipped two spots in the standings to finish heartbreakingly short of fourth place.  The Wolves finished with 75.5 total points through the 2-day meet, a mere half-point behind the University of Mary's 76 points.

NSU redshirt freshman Cody Hunt continued his season-long dominance in the shot put, firing off a career-best toss of 17.06 meters (55-11.75 feet).  That mark, which is a mere 34 centimeters shy of the NCAA automatic qualifying standard, vaults Hunt into the top ten on the national performance list.

Senior Wade Royer also posted a personal best in the pole vault, clearing 4.73 meters (15-06.25 feet).  One of four athletes – including NSU's Ross Pfeifle – to clear that height, Royer claimed a share of third place with the effort.  Pfeifle was awarded sixth place for his effort.

Track highlights included a second place finish by senior Trevor Steen in the 55-meter hurdles, while freshman Brock Rose and senior Danny Scott gave the Wolves a lift in the distance races.  Rose finished fourth in the 1,000 meters while Scott was fourth in the 5,000 meters.

Madden, who has been consistently strong in the weight throw throughout the year, claimed that event title by more than a foot.  Her winning throw of 17.79 meters (58-04.50 feet) was well ahead of the second place mark of 17.06 meters (55-11.75 feet) set by Rebecca Stier of Winona State.  However, Madden was just shy of her season and career-best mark of 17.97 meters.

NSU freshman Michelle Nickolas turned in a 5th place performance in the 600 meters, while sophomore Kari Linneman finished third in the 5,000 meters.

The Wolves finished the day with 32 total points, just 11 behind the eighth place Warriors from Winona State.

The Wolves now await final declarations for the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, slated for March 13-14 in Huston, Texas.