The NCC women’s track and field team looks to transition to their outdoor season in stride after a stellar winter.
Building up speed
Firstly, the indoor season acts as the perfect primer for the outdoor season for the Cardinals. They competed in ten different meets in the indoor season in preparation for the indoor postseason and the outdoor season.
Denise Partee, ’24, is a sprinter on the Cardinal squad. As an upperclassman, she knows firsthand the importance of not taking the indoor season for granted.
“The indoor track and field season holds significant importance for me in preparation for the outdoor season for several reasons, including the way that indoor competition allows me to improve my physical conditioning, and it provides an opportunity to build strength and work on speed and endurance for the outdoor competition,” said Partee.
Finding the balance between preparation and health is a key aspect for the Cardinals. For many athletes, indoor sports are a chance to prepare and prove yourself for the outdoor season.
Hannah Jones, ’24, is a multi-event athlete for the Cardinals team. She sees the indoor season as a chance to compete at a high level and prepare her for the spring.
“I definitely catered my training to performing at my best for indoor events, but the exciting part is that a lot of that work translates into successful outdoor events,” said Jones.
Postseason prowess
The team sprinted to victory in the CCIW Indoor Championships in defense of their title with a score of 157.5, 47 points ahead of second place Elmhurst University. In her 22nd season at the helm, head coach Kari Kluckhohn notched her fifth consecutive and her tenth overall indoor title.
The Cardinals won six individual CCIW titles en route to the conference title. On the track, Lindsey Novak, ’23, led the team. She claimed the title in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.29 and the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.79.
Novak was also part of the 400-meter relay team of Kyla Miller, ’24, Cire’ Smith, ’27, and Cali Minkie, ’25, that claimed first with a time of 3:59.76. Smith also won the 800-meter title with a time of 2:19.11.
On the field side, Jocelyn Trotter, ’27, claimed the title in the high jump with a winning jump of 1.57 meters. Gwen Berenyi, ’26, also scored a victory for the Cardinals. She took home first in the pole vault with a winning height of 3.76 meters.
The Cardinals’ indoor season didn’t end there. The team sent Novak, Partee, Jones and Faith Ladin, ’24, to indoor championships in Virginia Beach, Va. Jones and Partee were both honored with Second-Team All American status, with Jones finishing 16th in the pentathlon and Partee finishing 16th in the 60-meter hurdles.
Partee understood the magnitude of representing the Cardinals on the national stage.
“It embodies the accumulation of months and months of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice from all of the athletes there. The atmosphere of the indoor championships is always intense. Every year I’ve been, and stepping onto the track this year amongst my fellow competitors definitely gave me chills. It always feels like I’m there for the first time,” said Partee.
Looking for more
The Cardinals don’t have plans to stop at the Indoor CCIW title. The outdoor season has already begun for the team. Alexandra Draves, ’24, and Marcedes Jackson, ’23, represented the Cardinals at the Wash U Triangular in St. Louis, Mo. The rest of the team began competition at home when NCC hosted the First Chance Invitational March 28 and 29.
Furthermore, Jones views competing at the indoor championships as a preview for what’s to come for the outdoor season.
“I am very grateful for the entire experience and can’t wait to work even harder to try to qualify for Outdoor Nationals here very soon,” said Jones.
Many events still need to be completed before the postseason. Still, the Cardinals are primed up and ready to make a run toward greater things.
Finally, The team has its sights set on the CCIW Outdoor Championships and the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in May.
