GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Due to forecasted winter weather in the area, the North Dakota track and field teams were forced to withdraw from competition at the USD Early Bird scheduled for this Friday and Saturday. The winter storm is forecasted to drop 8-19 inches of snow on Grand Forks between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning with 45-50 MPH winds.

The Fighting Hawks will return to action next week, taking part in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate (April 13) and Bryan Clay Invitational (April 13-15).

Ranked in the Midwest Region
In the most recent USTFCCCA Rankings released on Monday, the North Dakota women have moved up to No. 17 in the Midwest Region, while the UND men sit No. 21 regionally.

Elise Ulseth is the top Hawk in the Midwest Region and is ranked No. 5 in the heptathlon. Ellyssa Peterson is the next-best Fighting Hawk in the standings, coming in at No. 12 in the 10,000 meters.

Luke Labatte (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Austin Wolf (high jump) pace the NoDak men and are No. 4 in the region in their respective events. Justin Jelaca is also in the top-10 and ranks No. 10 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

North Dakota Performs Well in USTFCCCA #EventSquad Rankings
In the first USTFCCCA #EventSquad Rankings of the season, the North Dakota track and field teams have five groups ranked highly, with all five of them sitting in the top-25. The ranking system uses the best qualifying marks from a team's top-four ranked athletes in an event.

• #17 – Women's Discus
• #18 – Women's Hammer Throw
• #19 – Men's 400m Hurdles
• #20 - Women's Shot Put
• #24 – Women's High Jump

Top-10 Hawks
The Fighting Hawks have already achieved 17 new top-10 outdoor marks in school history this season, including one school record:
• Aleksa Milanovic – 1,500m (No. 1 – 3:51.17)
• Justin Jelaca – 3,00m Steeplechase (No. 2 – 9:03.40)
• Allison Lardy – Shot Put (No. 3 – 48-2 3/4, 14.70m)
• Austin Wolf – High Jump (No. 2t – 7-0 1/4, 2.14m)
• Jerzie Finstad – 4x100m Relay (No. 3 – 48.10)
• Hinewai Knowles – 4x100m Relay (No. 3 – 48.10)
• Mackenzie Severson – 4x100m Relay (No. 3 – 48.10)
• Carley Johnson – 4x100m Relay (No. 3 – 48.10)
• Hinewai Knowles – 100m Hurdles (No. 4 – 14.47)
• Conny Wohlfahrt – 3,000m Steeplechase (No. 4 – 11:05.94)
• Jesse Middendorf – 800m (No. 6 - 1:52.72)
• Malene Kollberg – 100m Hurdles (No. 6 – 14.51)
• Eric Weiss – 3,000m Steeplechase (No. 6 – 9:30.70)
• Natalie Mohring – Hammer Throw (No. 7 – 187-3, 57.07m)
• Malene Kollberg – Long Jump (No. 7 – 18-8, 5.69m)
• Jerzie Finstad – 400m (No. 7 – 56.14)
• Kenna Curry – Discus (No. 8 – 157-0, 47.85m)
• Kenna Curry – Shot Put (No. 8 – 45-10 1/2, 13.98m)
• Kenna Curry – Hammer Throw (No. 9t – 181-10, 55.42m)
• Jerzie Finstad – 200m (No. 10 – 25.18)