Birmingham, Ala.--- Katie Taylor claimed the NCAA National Championship in the weight throw, a first in that event for the Minnesota State Women's Track & Field program, on day one of the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. With teammate Brea Perron finishing fourth in the weight throw, earning five team points to go along with Taylor's 10, the Mavericks have a total of 15 team points after the first day of competition which has them in first place with Saginaw Valley in second with 10 team points.

Taylor, a senior from Hayward, Wis., progressed out of the first flight of throws with a top mark of 19.91m (65'4") surpassing her already school record throw of 64'6". In the final flight of throwing, Taylor threw a first round 20.44m (67'0.75") which would have been good enough to win the championship, if not for her final throw of 21.17m (69'5.5"). That final throw sets the Minnesota State Indoor track & field record while also currently ranking as the ninth best throw in DII history.

Taylor becomes the first Maverick to win a National Championship in the Indoor weight throw event, and the first Minnesota State women's track & field member to win a National Championship since Khadiya Hollingsworth won the title in the outdoor high jump in 2018. Taylor also becomes the eighth member of the Minnesota State Women's Indoor Track & Field program to win a National Championship with this being the 12th title for the program overall including outdoor.

Perron, a senior from Waukesha, Wis., qualified for the second flight of throws with a top mark of 19.54m (64'1.75") which would be her best throw of the day as well as her career high. In the second flight, Perron made two throws beyond 19m, effectively eclipsing her career best mark a total of three times in the competition, and finished fourth in the event to earn All-American honors as well as five team points.

Kaylee Jensen, a senior from Nekoosa, Wis., will received second team All-American honors after finishing 12th with a top throw of 17.79m (58'4.5").

Minnesota State will return to action tomorrow as Mavericks are scheduled to compete in a total of 15 event slots including Taylor and Perron returning to throw in shot put.

Minnesota State Women's Track & Field                  Competition                Dates/Times (prelim or final)

Denisha Cartwright	60m Dash 200m Dash 60m Hurdles 4x400m Relay	March 12th/ 7:45 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:10 p.m. (final) March 12th/ 8:25 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:50 p.m. (final) March 12th/ 7:15 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:30 p.m. (final) March 13th/ 7:20 p.m. (final)
Rose Cramer	200m Dash	March 12th/ 8:25 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:50 p.m. (final)
Grace Hartman	200m Dash	March 12th/ 8:25 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:50 p.m. (final)
Makayla Jackson	60m Dash 200m Dash Long Jump	March 12th/ 7:45 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:10 p.m. (final) March 12th/ 8:25 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:50 p.m. (final) March 12th/ 6:30 p.m. (final)
Kaylee Jensen	Weight Throw	March 11th/ 4:00 p.m. (final)- Finished 12th
MacKenzie Keune	60m Hurdles 4x400m Relay	March 12th/ 7:15 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:30 p.m. (final) March 13th/ 7:20 p.m. (final)
Brea Perron	Weight Throw Shot Put	March 11th/ 4:00 p.m. (final)- Finished 4th March 12th/ 4:00 p.m. (final)
Nyeaee Robins	4x400m Relay	March 13th/ 7:20 p.m. (final)
Ja'Cey Simmons	60m Dash 200m Dash	March 12th/ 7:45 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:10 p.m. (final) March 12th/ 8:25 p.m. (prelim)
Katie Taylor	Weight Throw Shot Put	March 11th/ 4:00 p.m. (final) - Finished 1st March 12th/ 4:00 p.m. (final)
Mariah Williams	Long Jump	March 12th/ 6:30 p.m. (final)
Mackenzie Woodard	400m Dash 4x400m Relay	March 12th/ 7:25 p.m. (prelim) March 13th/ 6:20 p.m. (final) March 13th/ 7:20 p.m. (final)