Mankato, Minn. --- As the NSIC Conference Championships wrapped up, the Minnesota State women's track and field team won its second NSIC team championship and first since 2009.

Senior Faryn Wirkus (Edgar, Wisc.) set the tone early in the pole vault by placing first with a new personal best vault of 13'05.75''. This is currently the top vault in NCAA Division II. Grady Keding (Mosinee, Wis.) tied for sixth with a vault of 11'06.25''. Taking home first place in the triple jump was Ariel Thomas (Los Angeles, Calif.) with a leap of 40'01.50''. This is currently the sixth-best jump in DII and her personal best. Thomas collected the most team points for the team with 20.

Adding to her already impressive day Thomas took home the 60-meter dash crown. She won with a personal best time of 7.67. Also gaining valuable points for the Mavericks were Afure Adah in fourth (7.78), Gabi Gaines (7.78), and Karlona Gregory(7.83). The 200-meter dash was huge for the Mavericks toward their team point standings. They had four athletes in the top eight. Leading the Mavs was Afure in first with a run of 24.94. Right behind her in second was Altoniece Williams (Miami, Fla.) (25.00). Gregory was fifth (25.20) and Mackenzie Beals(Marshalltown, Iowa) was seventh (25.53).

Williams also established the NSIC meet and conference record with a time of 8.36 in the 60-meter hurdles, which is also the second fastest in all of DII. Following right behind her in second was Brooke Foreman(Cedar, Rapids, Iowa) with a new personal best time of 8.61. This is the 13^th fastest time in DII.

Yet another Maverick took home first-place honors, Haley Kruger (Brandon, S.D.), hit another personal-best in the 600-meters finishing with a time of 1:33.93. Teammate Bobbi Patrick (Middleton, Wis.) came in sixth at 1:38.36. The 800-meter run saw MSU athletes Megan Allen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) (2:14.92) and Maddi Sjelin (St. Michael, Minn.) (2:18.07) place second and fifth, respectively.

The 4x400 relay team, consisting of Amelia Kjos(River Falls, Wis.), Kruger, Jessika Dieringer (Fredonia, Wis.) and Stacy Smidt (Sioux Falls, S.D.) scored a third-place finish with a final time of 3:55.45.

As a team, Minnesota State won the championship with 140.50 points. They beat out Augustana University in second with 131.50.

Full championship results may be viewedHERE.

Two weeks remain to determine who will all travel to Pittsburg, Kan., to participate in the NCAA Division II National Championships. For those who do not qualify, this marks the end of the indoor season and begins preparation for the ensuing outdoor season, which is set to commence March 25th, in Emporia, Kan.