MANKATO, Minn. – The Winona State University women's track and field team claimed second place at the Minnesota State NSIC Indoor Challenge on Saturday behind the strength of a record-setting performance of the Warriors 4X400 relay team. The Warriors finished with 78.5 points, just ahead of NSIC rival the University of Sioux Falls with 67.  The host Mavericks won the competition with 281.5 points.

Running the fastest indoor time ever in WSU history on a flat 200-meter surface, the Winona State 4 x 400 relay team of Kendall Zeman, Maddy Pietz, Brooklyn Schyvinck, and Shereen Vallabouy clocked a 3:47.47, claiming the event championship in the process. With the impressive score, WSU is now ranked second in the country among NCAA Division II programs in the 4 X 400-meter relay with only Lincoln (Mo.) having a faster time at 3:42.74 so far this year.

 Winona State claimed the top two spots in the 3000-meter race, with McKenna Taylor (10:37.14) winning the event and Rachel Hoffman (10.56.22) claiming second. Carly Vandenhouten was fourth overall with a time of 11:34.02.  Also excelling at the meet in Mankato was Kaylee Beyer who won the 800-meter race with a time of 2.16.16.

Several Warriors cracked the top five in their respective events, with Xana Leum running a 8.98 in the 60-meter hurdles and Emma Breitsprecher also earning fifth in her event, the 600-meter race. Sophia Taarud was fifth overall in the 1000-meter run.

Nikki Kelley competed the 5000-meter run in 19.59.81, good for fourth place, while Ashlie Lockington also was fourth in the long jump with a 5.42 meter effort. Also in the field events, Madison Rizner was fifth in the triple jump at 11.29 meters.

Next up for Winona State is the final regular season competition of the year, as the Warriors return to Mankato for the Maverick Invitational on Friday, Feb. 18.  Following that event will be the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Indoor Track and Field Championships set for Friday Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26, also in Mankato, Minn.