St. Paul, MN -- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced the recipients of their 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field awards earlier this week. The awards are nominated and voted on by the UMAC track & field head coaches. Only results from the UMAC Indoor Championship meet count for consideration in the awards. 

Men's Track & Field Award Winners

Zak Ruhland (Junior, Jumps/Sprints | Minneapolis, MN) earned UMAC All-Conference in the indoor high jump at this year's conference meet. At this year's Indoor Track & Field Championships, Ruhland cleared a personal-best 1.90m in the high jump to finish 2nd overall, earning eight team points and a podium finish. The junior also posted a season-best 23.94 seconds in the 200m, finishing 11th overall.

Leighton Helander (Sophomore, Distance | Mountain Iron, MN) was awarded the UMAC Sportsmanship Award for the NCU men's squad. At the championship meet, Helander placed 10th in the mile (4:59.60) and later ran a personal-best 10:12.33 in the 3000m. The distance runner also competed in both the 4x400m and 400m Distance Medley Relays for the Rams.

Women's Track & Field Award Winner

Deshawna Hodges (Junior, Sprints/Jumps | Willmar, MN) earned the UMAC Sportsmanship award for the NCU women's team. Hodges showed out at the UMAC Indoor Championships, making history in the long jump. She soared to a program record 4.85m, placing 8th overall and earning a top-10 conference finish. The junior also led the Rams in the sprints, posting a season-best in the 60m finals with a time of 8.43 seconds and a 15th-place finish in the 200m with a time of 28.66 seconds.

Congratulations Zak, Leighton, and Deshawna! 

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