UAA Track and Field at NCAAs Friday and Saturday

Alaska Anchorage will compete at the NCAA Div. II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas March 8-9.

UAA at the NCAA Championships

Alaska Anchorage will be making its seventh straight appearance at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men’s highest finish of ninth came in 2014. The women’s highest finish of ninth came in 2016.

Returning Champions

Senior Danielle McCormick returns to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships as the defending champion in the 800. The Soldotna, native ran a time of 2:07.79 on the Pittsburg State University track, the same site as this year’s championship.

Top Seeds

The Seawolves enter the NCAA Championships as the top seed in three events. Senior Caroline Kurgat is seeded first in both the 3,000 (9:07.05) and 5,000 (15:28.46). The women’s distance medley relay is seeded first with a time of 11:23.47.

Championship Experience

UAA will be sending a women’s distance medley relay to the national championships for the seventh straight year. Three of the four relay members will be returning from last year’s team that finished ninth. Senior Caroline Kurgat, senior Danielle McCormick and junior Vanessa Aniteye will all be making their third appearance at NCAA’s. Sophomore Ruth Cvancara will be making her second appearance, and freshman Nancy Jeptoo will be making their first at the indoor championships after representing the Seawolves at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in the fall. The men’s distance relay team is making its second ever appearance, and first since 2013, at the NCAA Championships. The members of the relay, senior Eduardo Orozco, sophomore Felix Kemboi, freshman Nathanial Brunett and freshman Drew Johnson are all making their first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Felix Kemboi and Drew Johnson each represented the Seawolves at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Looking Ahead

Alaska Anchorage will open the outdoor season at the Willamette Invite March 23rd.