WSU track and field sets multiple school records
March 2, 2022
Winona State University track and field team has had a very successful indoor season so far, kicking off with several new records being set by the girls. If this past weekend is any indicator of the rest of their season, the outdoor season will be one to remember.
This past weekend the team had the NSIC indoor championships in Mankato, Minn. where they placed fourth among 16 teams.
Fourth-year Warrior Shereen Vallabouy set a new NSIC record in the 400m with a time of 54.94. Shortly behind was teammate Brooklyn Schyvinck with a time of 56.41, securing third in the event.
In the 400m, Vallabouy has accomplished Outdoor All-NSIC First Team (2021), Indoor Second Team All-American (2019) and 2019 Indoor All-Conference.
Just in the 4x400m, Vallabouy has made NCAA All-American Outdoor (2021), USTFCCA Out- door All-Region (2019), Indoor First Team All-American (2019) and Indoor All-Conference (2019) making for a very decorated Track and Field career at Winona State.
On top of an NSIC record, this also marks the best in Winona State history, putting Vallabouy on the record board not once but three times now.
In the 2019 season, Vallabouy was part of the 4×400 team that set a new school record with a 3:41.97 time for outdoor and a 3:43.78 for indoor. Also on the record-breaking team was Kalley Harris, and Brittany Schyvinck and Brooklyn Schyvinck.
While Harris is now graduated, the 4×4 team now consists of fourth years Kendall Zeman, Maddy Pietz, Schyvinck and Vallabouy. This does not stop the team from still winning championships as they took first with a 3:51.40 time for one of the many stellar times that has earned the group, second fastest 4×400 in all of NCAA Divi- sion II.
Zeman reflected on her four years here and the relationships she made, including the 4x400m as she stated the impact they’ve made on her.
“Many of the girls I have met from this sport have made an impact on me for who they were as teammates and friends,” Zeman said. “Not by how they ranked in the sport.”
This 4×4 also earned NSIC Women’s Track Athletes of the Week after setting the second-best time in NCAA Division II and notably the fastest time on a 200m indoor track in Winona State history on Feb. 12.
Also on the pedestal last weekend was second-year Lindsay Cunningham who is also a Winona State cross country athlete. Cunningham won the women’s 5000m with a time of 16:33.71, setting a Winona State record.
The race was not even close as Cunningham won by almost a full 45 seconds over University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Julia Nielson.
Cunningham dominated the outdoor 5k in track her freshman year to become a record holder with a 17:24.77 time, meaning she now holds the record for both fastest indoor and outdoor 5k.
Zeman took second in the 600m with a 1:35.65 shortly followed by third year Kaylee Beyer in third with a 2:14.19. When asked what has attributed to such a successful career, both academically and athletically, she gave all the credit to her teammates.
“When you have a group of friends who want the best for you and everyone around them, it makes for greater success all around,” Zeman said. “I can truly say that my teammates are the reason I have continued my love for the sport.”
This marks Beyer’s personal best in the 600 and puts her at second best in Winona State history. She also was a runner-up in the mile with a 4:50.74.
Schyvinck and Pryor both qualified for the 200m finals in sixth and eighth, respectively.
“My goals are to continue giving 100% in the classroom and on the track,” Zemen concluded. “Specifically on the track, I would love to say that I was able to compete one last time in the National Championship alongside my teammates and best friends.”
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