Junior Hailey Baker captured All-NSIC honors with a second-place finish in the hammer throw Friday to lead the Wayne State women's track and field team on the opening day of the 2024 Northern Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Mankato, Minnesota.  As a team, Wayne State is sixth after the opening day with 22.5 points.
            Minnesota State holds the team lead with 56 points followed by Augustana in second at 37.  Sioux Falls (33.5), University of Mary (28) and Concordia-St. Paul (26.5) close out the top five teams.  WSC was sixth at 22.5 with Minnesota Duluth and Northern State tied for seventh at 16 points.  Bemidji State (15) and St. Cloud State (8) close out the top 10 teams.
            Baker led a Wildcat quartet of throwers that placed second, fifth, seventh and eighth in the hammer throw.  Baker's top mark was 177' 6", good for second and All-NSIC honors.  Sophomore Olivia Schwarzrock came in fifth place at 163' 11" followed by Reilly Young in seventh (159' 6") and McKenna Markle in eighth at 159' 5".
            The Wildcats had two medal winners in the shot put as Ponca junior Brooke Languis placed sixth with a top heave of 42' 4 ¼" while Wayne freshman Brooklyn Kruse took seventh at 42' 2 ¼".
            Sophomore Anna Coffee closed out the Wildcat scoring Friday finishing tied for sixth in the heptathlon scoring 4,827 points.
            The final day of the Northern Sun Conference Track and Field Championships will take place Saturday with field events starting at 11 a.m. and finals in all running events beginning at 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota.