ABERDEEN, S.D. --- The fourth ranked Minnesota State women's track and field team traveled to Northern State University to take part in the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. After eight events score the Mavericks hold the top spot with a team total of 79 points.
In the heptathlon, Samantha Sunnarborg finished fourth with a total score of 4,634 points. Her best finishes came in the javelin and shot put. She finished first in the javelin with a toss of 146' 8'' (44.70m) and second in the shot put with a heave of 36' 1.25'' (11.00m).
Amanda Montplaisir was victorious in the 3000m steeplechase as she earned All-NSIC honors with a time of 10:41.43. Montplaisir currently holds the 11th ranking in division II.
Taylor Elliott finished second in the high jump earning All-NSIC recognition with a height of 5' 8.5'' (1.74m). Elliott is currently tied for ninth in division II.
Makayla Jackson took home the top podium spot in the long jump wit a leap of 19' 11.5'' (6.08m) earning All-NSIC honors. Jackson is currently ranked first in the country. Kary Petricka finished third and earned All-NSIC honors with a distance of 19' 10.25'' (6.05m). Petricka is ranked fourth in the nation.
Brea Perron and Katie Taylor finished first and second in the shot both earning All-NSIC recognition. Perron won the event with a heave of 49' 0.75'' (14.95m) and ranks sixth in division II. Taylor finished second in the event with a toss of 48' 1.25'' (14.66m) and is ranked sixth in the country.
Perron and Kaylee Jensen finished fourth and fifth in the hammer throw with marks of 176' 9'' (53.87m) and 173' 8'' (52.85m), respectively. Perron is ranked seventh currently and Jensen holds the 19th spot in division II.
In the pole vault, Paige Hickson finished second earning All-NSIC recognition with a leap of 12' 11'' (3.94m). Hickson is currently tied for 25th in division II.
The 1500m run prelim saw MaKenna Thurston qualify for the finals tomorrow with an eighth-place finish and a time of 4:47.45.
Denisha Cartwright and Kynnedi Malone finished first and fourth in the 100m hurdles earning a spot in the finals tomorrow. Cartwright finished first with a time of 13.75 and ranks is tied for first in division II in the event. Malone finished fourth with a time of 14.12 and holds the 26th spot in the country. Rose Cramer and Rose Gaye finished fifth and sixth in the 400m dash prelim with times of 58.20 and 58.28, respectively. Both athletes will take part in the finals tomorrow afternoon.
In the 200m dash prelim, Denisha Cartwright set a NSIC record in the event with a time 23.70. This mark bests three Mavericks who held the record in Jeri Domes (1983), Brittany Henderson (2010) and current team member Ja'Cey Simmons (2021) who had a mark of 23.98. Makayla Jackson and Simmons finished second and third with times of 23.96 and 24.32, respectively. The fourth Maverick to qualify for the finals tomorrow was Rose Cramer who finished fifth with a time of 24.37. Cartwright is currently ranked seventh in division II. Jackson is one spot ahead in sixth. Simmons is currently 35th and Cramer is 16th.
The Mavericks return to action tomorrow in the final day of the NSIC Outdoor Championships. The first field event will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the javelin and the first running event begins with the 4x100m relay at 1:00 p.m.
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