Morris, MN -- Today, the North Central University (NCU) Men's and Women's Track & Field teams competed on day one of the final meet of the season, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) outdoor championship meet. After the first day, the NCU men sit in 4th place and the women are in 6th place. Today was highlighted by several standout performances, including season bests (SB), personal records (PR), program records, and a meet record (MR). Freshman Catelyn Ketterling posted a 1st place performance in the 200m dash and also the leading 100m prelim time. Freshman Zak Ruhland set a meet record in the javelin throw to place second overall. 

NCCAA National Championship Qualifiers
Jazzmin Celis - 400m hurdles

Sprints:

Freshman Catelyn Ketterling had a breakout performance in the 200m, taking 1st place with a time of 26.25 seconds, earning a personal record (PR) and breaking her own NCU program record. Junior Brycelyn Brewster was close behind in 2nd place at 26.45 seconds (PR). Freshman Lily Ciske (28.29) and Sophomore Deshawna Hodges (29.55) also represented well in the 200m. Ketterling also qualified for finals in the 100m prelims with a time of 12.74 seconds to set another personal best and NCU record time. The Rams showed out in the women's 400m hurdles as freshman Joyce Horton secured 3rd place with a time of 1:09.18, followed by freshman Ari Klein in 4th with a personal best of 1:09.34, and freshman Jazzmin Celis in 7th, also recording a PR of 1:14.37. In the 100m hurdles prelims, Horton qualified for the finals with a 6th place time of 16.87 seconds and Klein just missed the finals with a 9th place finish in 17.35 seconds. 

Junior Jaquan Adams placed 4th in the 200m with a time of 22.80. Freshman Hunter Harris (23.34) and sophomore Connor Yslas (25.40) also competed in the 200m. In the 100m prelims, Adams (11.37), Zak Ruhland (11.59), and Nehemiah Juaire (11.63) all recorded strong efforts. In the 400m hurdles, junior Garrett Converse finished 9th in 1:06.74, and freshman Leighton Helander followed in 12th with a personal best of 1:09.62.

Distance:

Sophomore Jessica Redman ran a season-best 13:10.34 in the 3000m Steeplechase, finishing 6th overall. In the 800m, freshman Savi Rael placed 8th with a time of 2:32.11.

Junior Garrett Converse placed 3rd in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 10:28.04. Freshman Colton Hagen clocked 2:12.06 in the 800m.

Throws:

Jackie Lindsay led the Rams in the javelin throw, placing 12th with a mark of 23.35m, while Avah Kraushaar threw 18.85m to finish 19th.

Freshman Zak Ruhland delivered a championship-caliber throw in the javelin, finishing 2nd with a meet record and personal best of 52.57m. This heave also shatters his previous program record by almost 5 meters. Junior Caleb Lundt threw 44.78m for 4th place and a personal best. Senior Nehemiah Juaire hit a season-best 34.15m (12th place), and freshman Andre Muteba was 15th overall at 31.91m. Muteba also placed 11th in the hammer throw with a mark of 33.07m.

Jumps:

Ari Klein placed 9th in the long jump at 4.50m to set a new program record, while sophomore Chloe Bjorlin finished in 12th place (4.13m).

Nehemiah Juaire finished 6th in the long jump at 6.00m and Hunter Harris followed in 8th place with a jump of 5.95m. In the pole vault, junior Tom Cao delivered a clutch performance, clearing 3.92m to earn 4th place overall.

Relays:

The women's 4x800m relay team of Savi Rael, Jessica Redman, Avah Kraushaar, and Brycelyn Brewster ran 10:49.05 to take 4th place.

The team of Colton Hagen, Josh Hinson, Leighton Helander, and Garrett Converse clocked 9:12.37 in the 4x800m relay, placing 5th overall.

Looking Ahead:

North Central will finish up its 2025 season by competing in the second day of the UMAC outdoor championships. The meet will begin at 11:00 AM.

All fans are encouraged to tune into the official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X) pages for updates on track and field and all things NCU Athletics.