Bloomington, Minn. --- Minnesota State junior sprinter Denisha Cartwright was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Preseason Track Athlete of the Year the league announced today.
 
An eight-time USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track & Field First Team All-American (twice each in the 100 meters, 100-meter hurdles, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relays), Cartwright is the reigning NCAA Division II National Champion in the 100 meter hurdles and the 4x100 meter relay.  For her efforts last year, Cartwright was named the 2022 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year after earlier receiving the Central Region award.
 
The NSIC record holder in the 100-meter hurdles (13.28) and the 4x100 meter relay (45.24), Cartwright is also a two-time defending conference champion in those events and was the 2022 NSIC Women's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year after earning 2021 NSIC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Newcomer of the Year accolades.
 
Cartwright enters the 2023 season with the following all-time NCAA Division II rankings:  sixth in 4x100 meter relay (44.29), 16th in 100-meter hurdles (13.28), and tied for 24th in 100 meters (11.46).
 
Last weekend, Cartwright picked up her second consecutive National Championship in the 60-meter hurdles when she helped the Mavericks to a runner-up finish at the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships.  Cartwright also earned 2022-23 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women's Indoor Track & Field First Team All-American honors in the 60 meters and 200 meters, bringing her career total of indoor track & field All-American honors to 11.
 
Minnesota State opens the 2023 outdoor portion of its schedule March 24 and 25 as it travels to Wayne, Neb., to participate in the Wildcat Outdoor Classic.