Augustana Leads Women, MSU Mankato In First in Men's NCC

Minnesota State University-Mankato has racked up 75 points after the first six events of the men's competition at the North Central Conference Championships in Mankato. They lead second place UMD by 31 points. In the women's competition, Augustana leads UMD by 20 points with a total of 57 points after the first six events.

In the women's long jump, Shana Brown of Nebraska-Omaha and Katelin Rains of MSU-Mankato were separated by half an inch, Brown jumping 18' 7" to win and Rains 18' 6.5" in second. Both marks were provisional qualifiers for the NCAA Division II Championships. The South Dakota women's Distance Medley Relay also recorded a provisional qualifying mark while winning the event with a time of 12:15.36. Augustana's Miranda Wagner and Alyssa Anderson went one, two in the 5K with times of 18:01.15 and 18:06.48, respectively. UMD's Cassie Corrigan and Justina Froelich were first and second in the weight throw: Corrigan tossing 51' 8.5" and Froelich 51' 3.5".

In the prelims, MSU-Mankato's Brittany Henderson ran an NCAA Division II automatic qualifier of 7.53 seconds to lead all qualifiers in the 60 meter dash. Henderson also had a provisional qualifier in the 200 of 25.05, followed by two other provisional marks from Pinar Saka of Nebraska-Omaha(25.07) and Shaneka Parkes of South Dakota(25.41). Saka also had a provisional qualifer in the 400(56.97) as did teammate Anja Puc(57.62).

In the men's competition, Jason Beutz of UMD edged Andrew Smith of South Dakota in the pole vault for first. Both cleared an NCAA provisional qualifying height of 15' 6.5". The first two finishers in the weight throw also had provisional qualifiers as Preston Scott of South Dakota threw 56' 10" for first, and Matt Fick of North Dakota was second with a toss of 56' 8". Long jump winner Kelvin Rodgers of MSU-Mankato had a provisional qualifying mark of 23' 8.25" to win the long jump. MSU Mankato's DMR team finished first in 10:31.86. Jesse Merkel of MSU Mankato won the 5K in a time of 15:11.93.

In the men's prelims, Terry Liggins of South Dakota led all qualifiers in the 60 meter hurdles in an NCAA Divison II automatic qualifying time of 8.02 seconds. South Dakota's Dominic Artis lead all qualifiers in the 200 with a provisional qualifier of 21.98. Also getting a provisional mark was second fastest qualifier in the 200, Nate Pieper of MSU-Mankato who was timed in 22.18.

For the full meet schedule and results, click here.