GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota track and field is set to make a return trip to South Dakota State to continue indoor season competition at the Jim Emmerich Alumni Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
 
Both field and running events will begin inside the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex at 1:30 p.m in Brookings. Live results from the meet will be provided by Dakota Timing. 
 
Last Time Out
North Dakota track and field returned to indoor competition in strong fashion by notching five individual event crowns and 12 top-three finishes in Saturday action at the Bison Team Cup hosted by North Dakota State.

The accolades started early as Carter Byron won the men's weight throw with his toss of 60-2 1/2 (18.35m) that marks a new personal best and places him No. 6 on the UND top-10 list.
 
North Dakota made it a clean sweep in the weight throw as Julia Matthews finished atop the women's leaderboard with her mark of 59-6 3/4 (18.15m).
 
It was another sweep for the Fighting Hawks over on the track for the 60-meter hurdles. Ryan Lange emerged victorious for the men with his clocking of 8.52 as Wyatt Genelin took third in 8.74. On the women's side of the event, Marta Marksa ran an 8.89 for her first-place finish. Marksa also placed in the top-three of the long jump with her leap of 18-6 1/2 (5.65m).
 
The final individual event title came from Kim Hitchen in the women's 400-meter dash. She ran away with the crown after crossing the finish line in 58.01.
 
Emma Briggs also logged a new UND top-10 entry, this time from the women's pole vault. She cleared a new personal best of 11-9 3/4 (3.60m) for a third-place finish in the event and the No. 8 spot in North Dakota history.
 
Summit League Accolades
Peak Performer of the Week
- Jadyn Keeler – Women's Track (Dec. 9)
 
Fight 'em Hawks!
The Fighting Hawks have already achieved 14 new top-10 indoor marks in program history this season, including two school records:
* Louis-Lys Fanucchi – 5,000m (No. 1 – 13:58.81)
* Jadyn Keeler – 5,000m (No. 1 – 15:14.76)
* Matej Hrebacka – 5,000m (No. 2 – 14:00.86)
* Anya Williams – Triple Jump (No. 2 – 39-3 1/4, 11.97m)
* Aleksa Milanovic – 3,000m (No. 4 – 8:18.00)
* Ethan Adams – 5,000m (No. 5t – 14:30.04)
* Kimberly Hitchen – 400m (No. 6 – 56.42)
* Marta Marksa – Pentathlon (No. 6 – 3650)
* Ava Phrakonkham – 60m – (No. 6 – 7.76)
* Carter Byron – Weight Throw (No. 6 – 60-2 1/2, 18.35m)
* Frida Giersdorff – 5,000m (No. 7 – 16:53.30)
* Gabriella Ruggeri – 600m (No. 7 – 1:36.26)
* Sawyer Timmer – 400m (No. 8 – 57.37)
* Gabrielle Wahl – 5,000m (No. 8 – 17:02.75)
* Julia Matthews – Weight Throw (No. 8 – 60-7 3/4, 18.48m)
* Carson Kunz – High Jump (No. 8 – 6-7, 2.01m)
* Darby Griffin – 600m (No. 8 – 1:22.54)
* Emma Briggs – Pole Vault (No. 8 – 11-9 3/4, 3.60m)
* Cruz Megazzini – 200m (No. 9t – 22.35)
* Tyler Thoreson – Shot Put (No. 9 – 54-6 1/2, 16.62m)
* Kajsa Cabanas Andersson – Pentathlon (No. 10 – 3410)
* Kajsa Cabanas Andersson – Shot Put (No. 10 – 45-7, 13.89m)
* Marta Marksa – 400m (No. 10 – 57.66)
* Till Woldrich – 800m (No. 10 – 1:53.63)
 
Preseason Rankings and Athletes to Watch
In the Preseason Summit League Coaches' Poll released on December 3, the North Dakota women were selected second with two first-place votes, while the Fighting Hawk men were picked fourth. The same release named Jadyn Keeler, Matej Hrebacka, Shane Zierden and Julia Matthews as Athletes to Watch in this Summit League this season.
 
On Tap
North Dakota track and field returns to Grand Forks for its indoor home opener on January 30 and 31 as the Fighting Hawks host the UND Open inside the Frederick D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center.  
 
For updates and more information on North Dakota track and field, follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC or visit FightingHawks.com.