Claim Titles in 11 Events

Maverick Athletics News

St. Paul, Minn. —  For the second consecutive year and the fourth time in program history, the Minnesota State women’s track and field team has claimed the NSIC Outdoor Championship.   
 
The Mavericks amassed 272.4 points in earning the team crown, blowing past the Minnesota Duluth’s total of 226.5 points in 1997 for the most in league history.  The Mavericks claimed titles in 11 events over the course of the weekend.
 
Junior Denisha Cartwright led the way for the Mavericks as she won the 100 meters (11.46), 100-meter hurdles (13.04) and the 200 meters 23.30 – all of which were NSIC records and all three races took place within roughly a 90 minute window. Between the sprints and and the 4×100-meter relay, Cartwright accounted for 32.5 points a mark that would have placed her tenth in the team race by herself.  For her efforts, Cartwright was named the meet’s Top Scorer a title which she also claimed this past winter at the indoor championships.
 
The day started off with a pair of championships in field events as junior Flore Gracia won the triple jump with a leap of 12.46m (40′ 10 ½”).  Just minutes later, senior thrower Lexi Hurst threw her way to the top of the podium for the second time this weekend as she won the discus with a toss of 45.17m (148’2″). 
 
Also earning points in the triple jump was sophomore Stella Neophytou who finished fourth with a jump of 11.78m (38’7 ¾”).  In the discus, freshman Gianna Trotter was third with a toss of 44.11m (144’8″), junior Madeline Fretag was fourth with a throw of 43.80m (143’8) and junior Mack Rath was eighth with a throw of 40.76m (133’8″). 
 
In the javelin throw, junior Samantha Sunnarborg claimed the league title with a heave of 44.09m (144’08). 
 
On the track, the Mavericks blazed past the competition in the 4×100-meter relay setting an NSIC record with a time of 45.10.  The quartet consisted of Cartwright and fellow juniors Ja’Cey Simmons, Rose Cramer and Makayla Jackson.
 
Following Cartwright – who tied her national best mark in the 100m hurdles with that the time of 13.04 – was sophomore Kynnedi Malone in second with a 13.76 while senior Quanterra Harrison was third with a 14.10.  Sophomore Lyric Brennen was sixth with a time of 14.69.
 
The 400 meters saw Minnesota State earn points from sophomore Elizabeth Schmidt and freshman Grace Hambel as they finished third and eighth respectively with times of 55.76 and 57.95. 
 
Jackson finished second in the 100-meter dash behind Cartwright with a time of 11.54.  Freshman Norah D’Almedia was sixth with a 11.93 while Simmons was eighth with a 12.16.
 
Junior MaKenna Thurston won the 800 meters with a time of 2:10.62.  The time was the fifth fastest in program history.
 
In the 400-meter hurdles, junior Eilika Lane was fourth with a tie of 1:01.89 while senior Quenterra Harrison was seventh with a 1:03.22.
 
In all, five Mavericks scored points in the 200 meters led by Cartwright’s 23.30.  Jackson was second with a 23.85 while Cramer was sixth with a 24.49. Simmons turned in a seventh-place time of 25.11 and Schimdt was eighth with a 25.68. 
 
Senior Amanda Montplaisir finished second in the 5,000 meters to round out the individual running events.
 
The Mavericks wrapped up the championships with a first-place finish in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:46.95.  That squad consisted of Lane, Cramer, senior Rose Gaye and Schmidt.
 
The Mavericks will find out who has qualified for this year’s NCAA Championships next week.  The championships will be held May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colo.