The University of Minnesota Duluth women's indoor track and field team secured fourth place at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships in Mankato, Minnesota, highlighted by two event wins. The men's team placed seventh, with several fourth-place finishes contributing to their score. The event featured strong performances from both squads over the weekend.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships took place in Mankato, Minnesota, where the University of Minnesota Duluth teams competed over the weekend. The Bulldog women achieved a fourth-place team finish, driven by standout individual efforts. Graduate student Shaelyn Hostager claimed her third NSIC title in two seasons by winning the 5,000 meters in 17:15.73; she had previously won outdoor titles in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters last May. Sophomore Avary Fitzpatrick earned her first collegiate indoor victory in the 600 meters with a personal best of 1:36.60, while junior Madi Wodele placed fourth in the same event at 1:37.52.
Senior Kate Fitzgerald recorded fourth places in the 200 meters (25.06) and 400 meters (57.46, a personal best). The women's 4x400-meter relay, consisting of freshman Emily Beaham, sophomore Sevanna Burke, sophomore Avary Fitzpatrick, and Fitzgerald, also finished fourth. Additionally, the distance medley relay team of Hostager, senior Maddie Verkerke, Burke, and junior Ellie Hanowski took third in 12:03.76.
On the men's side, the Bulldogs landed in seventh place, bolstered by multiple fourth-place results. Sophomore Austin Kehr ran a personal best of 1:21.38 for fourth in the 600 meters, and senior Finn Youberg clocked 1:55.39 for fourth in the 800 meters. Sophomore Noah Rodenwald achieved fourth in the pole vault at 4.88 meters, marking the 47th-best NCAA Division II height this season. Senior Jackson Weston threw 16.83 meters for fourth in the shot put. The men's 4x400-meter relay, with sophomore Billy Auvin, junior Brady Johnson, Kehr, and senior Brock Unger, finished fourth in 3:20.45.
In a notable honor, jumper Will Heydt was selected as the 2025-26 NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year for men's indoor track and field by league head coaches. A cell and molecular biology major from Alexandria, Minnesota, with a 3.7 GPA, Heydt has earned Dean's List honors seven times and is part of the NSIC All-Academic Team. He has scored points in four NSIC triple jump championships, ranks 19th nationally in the event, ninth in the NSIC long jump, and placed fourth in javelin at last year's outdoor meet.
