Despite producing its first individual champion in seven years, the University of Minnesota Duluth saw its quest for a second straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference team title come up short as the Bulldogs settled for second place at the conference meet Saturday morning in Sioux Falls, S.D.
It was a two-horse race between the Bulldogs and the University of Mary, and in the end it was the Mauraders who prevailed with 33 points. UMD was 14 points back followed by Winona State University (117 pts.), Minnesota State University-Moorhead (117 pts.), Augustana University (135 pts.), Minnesota State University-Mankato (179 pts.), St. Cloud State University (187 pts.) and the University of Sioux Falls (191 pts.)
Emi Trost became the ninth Bulldog ever -- and the first since Morgan Place won the second of her back-to-back crowns in 2009 -- to reign as the NSIC individual titleholder. The All-American junior from Goodhue, Minn., completed the 6K race with a time of 19:51.37 -- a little over three seconds faster than runnerup and defending NCAA Division II and NSIC champion Alexis Zeis of Mary. All-American senior
Breanna Colbenson placed fourth (20:14.91) and junior
Amber Seidenkranz took 10th (21:14.06) en route to joining Trost on the All-NSIC first team while a pair of Bulldogs making their conference debuts -- junior transfer
Abby Moore, in her conference debut was (15th place in 21:35.72) and rookie
Meg Borowski (17th place; 21:42.68 -- both attained All-NSIC second team honors. Freshman
Melissa Drenckhahn (25th place; 22:02.11) rounded out the list of Bulldog point producers and was followed by senior
Natalie Stauber (35th place; 22:27.62) and freshman
Sarah Harrison (41st place; 22:38.61). A total of 135 runners took part in the event at the Yankton Trails Park.
"I was extremely happy with our team's effort today," said UMD head coach
Joanna Warmington. "Everyone posted season PRs and we battled hard. I think we are in a good place right now with regions and nationals coming up. I'm really looking forward to the next two-to-four weeks."
UMD will return to Sioux Falls and the same venue on Nov. 5 for the NCAA Division II Central Regional championship.
2016 NSIC Championships Results
