MORRIS, Minn. - The University of Northwestern's Women's Track and Field Team raced in the first day of the two-day UMAC Track and Field Championships on Friday.

The Eagles got off to a strong start as Grace Moravchik (Mason, Wis./Ashland) opened the day with a first-place finish in the long jump. Moravchik's first jump landed .12 meters farther than her season best leap, and this first mark qualified her for finals. With the first two jumps in finals, she danced around her first mark before jumping further than she ever has, with a distance of 5.23 meters (17'2"). After winning the event in February at the Indoor UMAC Championships, the sophomore's impressive resume now includes a first-place finish in the outdoor season as well. The talented Moravchik stayed busy on Friday as she raced in the preliminary 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, and the 200-meter dash. In the 100-meter hurdles, Moravchik qualified 2nd with a time of 16.38 seconds. For her second win of the meet, she ran a 1:07.03 finish in the 400-meter hurdles to continue her two-year reign as the 400 hurdle champion. Moravchik rounded out her day with a 5th-place finish in the 200-meter with a time of 26.74

In the first track event of the afternoon, Caroline Ringsmuth (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) ran her way to a 4th-place finish in the 3000 Steeplechase with a season-best time of 12.43.46. Also racing in the Steeplechase, Olivia Usselman (Stillwater, Minn./Math and Science Academy) finished 13th with a time of 14:10.87.

Alvine Njounang (Virginia, Minn./Grand Rapids) raced in the first heat of the 100-meter dash and placed third with her finish of 13.20 seconds. After the final heats were timed, Njounang landed 5th to qualify for the finals on day two. She also ran in the 200-meter dash and placed 9th with her time of 27.50.

Deanna Ammermann (Spirit Lake, Iowa/Spirit Lake) also raced in the 100-meter dash, notching a 1st place finish in her heat and a 3rd-place qualifying finish of 13.01 seconds. After winning the 200-meter dash at the UMAC Indoor Championships, Ammermann clinched a 3rd place finish in the outdoor 200 with her finish of 26.58 seconds.

Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) entered the 800-meter race with the fastest time in the UMAC. After a fast two laps, Maki crossed the finish line in 2nd with a time of 2:19.95. Joining Maki in the 800 was Meghan Corbett (Sartell, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral). Corbett, with a strong performance, finished with a time of 2:28.20 in 7th place.

Naomi Wallace (Pipestone, Minn./Pipestone Area) represented UNW in the long jump alongside Moravchik and secured an 8th-place finish with a jump of 4.52 meters (14'10"). Jumping for the Eagles in the Pole Vault, Samary Acuna Arroliga (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) cleared 2.45 meters (8'0.5") for a 6th-best height in the UMAC. Both Wallace and Acuna Arroliga raced in the 4x800-meter relay along with Kimberlyn Case (Sleepy Eye, Minn./Litchfield) and Faith Matvey (Meadowlands, Minn./Lakeview Christian Academy). They finished 5th in the UMAC with their time of 10:59.67.

Finally, Emily Ashton (Camas, Wash./St. Mary's Academy) threw the Javelin for Northwestern, winning the event. Once again, Ashton tossed a distance that is the 80th best in all of Division III. Her season-best throw of 37.11 meters (121'9") beat all other throws by nearly three feet. This is the junior's second time winning this event at the UMAC Championships in her career.

After the nine events on day one, the Eagles are 2nd in the meet with 63 points, just one point behind Crown in first place.