TJ Leverentz/Winonan

The Winona State University track and field team spent the weekend split in two locations. The 4×400 meter relay team was at the University of Minnesota competing in the Parents Day Open Feb. 22, while the other athletes competed in the Wisconsin-La Crosse Dual on Feb. 21.

The Warrior 4×400 relay continued to make school history and improve their NCAA provisional mark, which they set last weekend in Mankato.

The relay team is made up of Katie Bagley, Kelsey Bethke, Taylor Vogel and Catherine Whitcomb. They posted a time of 3:49.46, just 0.03 behind a school record that was set last year as well as 0.03 behind first-place University of Mary.

The Warrior 4×400 relay team had the sixth fastest time in the nation heading into the meet at the University of Minnesota.

“Last year’s and this year’s team is probably the best we’ve ever had,” Rebarchek said.

The athletes are either looking to improve in their event or going for a seat on the bus to the conference meet, he said. Rebarchek added that it’s mostly freshmen who are on the bubble.

Those freshmen and their Warrior teammates competed at the Wisconsin La Crosse Dual in La Crosse, Wis. on Feb. 21. The Warriors won three events and earned another NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

Elisa Kupferschmid posted one of the three Warrior victories. Kupferschmid totaled a distance of 17.44 to clinch the weighted throw. Another Warrior victory came in throwing from Paige Garriga, who totaled a distance of 13.22 meters in her respective event.

The 4×400 meter relay team, made up of Lizzie Bartow, Ali Skluzacek, Megan Seidl and Madeline Tompach, posted a time of 4:04.89 to round out the Warrior victories.

Hannah Mueller posted an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in long jump. Mueller totaled a distance of 5.67 meters to earn her the mark and second place in the event.

Warrior underclassmen secured three of the top-four spots in the triple jump.

Annie Wienrich led the way by finishing second, totaling a distance of 11.01 meters.

Andrea Bartz followed with a distance of 11 meters, and Haley Reinke rounded out the top four with a distance of 10.40 meters.

Freshmen Alyssa Weiler and Reagan Johnson also cracked the top four in the high jump. Weiler totaled a distance of 1.59 meters to earn third, and Johnson took fourth with a distance of 1.54 meters.

“This is the most freshmen we’ve had, and it has been going great,” said Rebarchek. According to Rebarchek, the freshmen are the healthiest they have been this year. He attributes that to his staff’s ability of knowing when to give breaks and when to push their athletes.

“I was worried about my health during the latter part of the season, but I am 100 percent,” Weiler said.

The Warriors will travel to Bemidji, Minn. to compete in the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championship. The NSIC has three teams ranked in the top 25.

Augustana is the highest ranked NSIC team, coming in at 12th. The Vikings are followed by the University of Minnesota-Duluth and Wayne State, who are ranked 22nd and 24th respectively.

The conference meet begins Friday, Feb. 28, and wraps up Saturday, March 1.