NMU Track Gets Season Rolling

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University women’s indoor track and field team will be in action this weekend. The ‘Cats will compete in the Lake Superior State Open on Friday (Jan. 21) and then host the Northern Challenge in the Superior Dome on Saturday (Jan. 22).

NMU will compete in a triangular meet with LSSU and Northwood. Each team will have one representative per event. The teams have been in the process of raising money for cancer awareness and will be donating their earnings to help cancer patients. Events will get under way at 4 p.m. from Sault St. Marie on Friday.

Saturday’s meet in the Superior Dome starts at 11 a.m. and admission is free. The Northern Challenge is in its sixth year and will feature teams from NMU women’s team and the men’s club team, Lake Superior State (men and women), Northwood (men and women), St. Norbert (men and women) and Michigan Tech club teams (men and women).

These meets will be the first of the 2011 season and first of the season for the distance runners. Head Coach Tom Barnes is very excited for his team to get back into action.

“We have had a nice break and are ready to compete.” said Barnes. “We’re ready for some very good performances.”

Before the Saturday’s competition five seniors will be honored. Brittnee Balbierz, Angela Leckson, Kristen Schulz, Jessica Krob and Krista Hoklas will be participating in their final Northern Challenge as members of the NMU indoor track and field team. Along with the start of completion the team will announce their total earnings for the cancer awareness they raised for the LSSU triangular.

The event schedule for the Northern Challenge follows:

Field Events
11 a.m.
long jump (women and men)
pole vault (women and men)
shot put (women and men)
weight throw (women and men)
high jump (women and men)
triple jump (women and men)

Running Events
(rolling time schedule)
11:30 a.m.
55 hurdles (women and men)
55 dash (women and men)
800 relay (women and men)
mile run – finals (women and men)
55 hurdles – finals (women and men)
55 dash – finals (women and men)
400 dash (women and men)
800 (women and men)
200 (women and men)
3,000 (women and men)
1,600 relay (women and men)