SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Headlined by a conference title from Danylle Kurywchak and a big opening day from Molly McDonald at 2015 Northern Sun Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the University of Mary is within striking distance of what would be a fourth straight title. The three-time defending champion Marauders sit just eight points out of first place.
 
The Marauders are third overall after day one with 34 points. Winona State University leads all teams with 42 points and Wayne State College has 34.
 
Posting a season-best and NCAA provisional qualifying mark, Kurywchak leaped 5.92 meters to win the conference long jump title. It is the first outdoor title for the junior from Cameron Park, Calif. The holder of the conference's best mark in the triple jump will go for another title on Saturday.
 
After finishing third in the NSIC multi championships, McDonald placed in two events today and was the top qualifier in another event. The junior from Lakewood. Colo., tied for second in the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.67 meters. She then posted a sixth place finish in the long jump with an effort of 5.58 meters. To cap her day, McDonald qualified for Saturday's finals by taking first in the preliminaries of the 100 meter hurdles in a provisional qualifying time of 14.03 seconds. Thus far she has accounted for 16 of Mary's team points.
 
In one of the most competitive fields, Davina Carr claimed second in the pole vault. Ranked fifth in the conference before the meet and 17^th in the country, Carr elevated an NCAA provisional qualifying height of 3.70 meters in her first attempt of the day to earn the runner-up position. The sophomore from Nine Mile Falls, Wash., passed on the opening heights before sticking her lone successful make of the day and breaking a four-way tie for second.
 
In addition to McDonald in the 100 meter hurdles, several Marauders qualified for the finals on Saturday.
 
Brienna Lynch, this week's NSIC Track Athlete of the Week and holder of the top time in the 800 meter run in the NSIC this season, qualified for the finals with a time of 2:16.17. The senior from Bismarck, N.D., won her heat and posted the second best mark of the day.
 
Two Marauders qualified for the 1,500 meter finals. Alexis Zeis claimed third in the preliminaries with a time of 4:49.19 and Katelynn Engh was fifth in 4:46.43.
 
Joining McDonald in the 100 meter hurdles is Tonie Pandohie, who sailed over the barriers in 14.41 seconds to claim fifth. Pandohie also will run in the 200 meter dash finals after running a 25.28 seconds for ninth.
 
Three Marauders will run in the 400 meter dash finals. Cassandra Jones posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 55.98 seconds to finish first in the preliminaries. Melanie Rodriguez was fourth with a clocking of 57.67 seconds and Kameya Johnson was seventh in 57.85 seconds.
 
Three more Marauders will run in the 400 meter hurdles finals. Crystal Hovland won the top seed with a time of 1:02.59. Josie Guptill was clocked in 1:03.02 for third and Julie Dinius was eighth in 1:04.64 seconds.
 
Seven-time All-American and defending NSIC Outdoor and Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Kathryn Stewart was the top qualifier in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash. She posted a clocking of 24.26 seconds in the 200 and 11.85 seconds in the 100.
 
Day two of the NSIC outdoor championships begin with field events at 11 a.m. Running events start at 1 p.m.
 
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