all-americans - University of North Dakota Athletics

Event Site Mark Year
1,600-meter relay
Jess Williams, Missy Berg NCAA II 3:45.05 2001
April Bielejeski, Heidi Faul
Jess Williams, Jess Schill Drake 3:49.31 2002
April Biejeleski, Heidi Faul
Jess Williams, Jackie Auwarter Drake 3:49.81 2002
April Biejeleski, Heidi Faul
Jess Williams, Missy Berg Florida St. 3:51.89 2000
Rebecca Goodman, Heidi Faul
Jess Williams, Missy Berg NCC 3:52.55 2000
April Bielejeski, Rebecca Goodman
Erin Bly, Marie Crep NCC 3:56.07 1993
Audra Bushaw, Kari Ward
Jess Williams, Missy Berg NCC 3:56.32 1999
Traci Korynta, Cindy Scott
Jenna Griffith, Jess Schill Emporia 3:56.67 2003
Rachel Sackett, Heidi Faul
Liesa Swenson, Marie Crep Drake 3:56.71 1992
Denise Barnhardt, Audra Bushaw
3,200-meter relay
Cindy Scott, Missy Berg Drake 9:04.03 1999
J. Auwarter, Lisbeth Pedersen
Katie Marschel, April Maine Drake 9:08.51 2001
Jess Schill, Jackie Auwarter
Cindy Scott, Traci Korynta Drake 9:12.92 1996
Erin Bly, Christy Rygh
Steph Bruening, Jackie Killian Drake 9:13.37 1990
Barb Bergantine, Marie Crep
April Maine, Jackie Auwarter Drake 9:13.68 2000
Katie Marschel, JoAan Murphy
Jess Schill, Rachel Sackett Drake 9:18.72 2003
Brittany Beeson, Veronica Sackett
Distance Medley
Katie Marschel, Jackie Auwarter Drake 11:47.63 2001
Becky Leppard, April Maine
Jen Lykken, Marie Crep Drake 11:48.94 1993
Erin Bly, Steph Bruening
Christy Rygh, Missy Berg Drake 12:03.49 1998
Cindy Scott, Becky Leppard
Jess Schill, Heidi Faul Drake 12:08.23 2003
Rachel Sackett, Veronica Sackett
Steph Bruening, Audra Bushaw Drake 12:11.98 1991
Jackie Kilian, Sheila Pexsa
Sprint Medley
Crystal White, Chantel Larson Drake 4:05.77 1999
Jackie Feser, April Maine
Rebecca Goodman, S. Bergantine Drake 4:08.77 2000
Jackie Auwarter, April Maine
Kerry Hendricksen, Chantel Larson Drake 4:10.78 1998
Missy Berg, Becky Leppard
April Bielejeski, Becky Cable Drake 4:11.10 2001
Rebecca Goodman, Jackie Auwarter
Sara Glas, Chantel Larson Drake 4:12.15 1996
Kari Ward, Cindy Scott
Heidi Hager, Laura Seifert Drake 4:14.82 1994
Kari Ward, Erin Bly
Pole Vault
Ellen Amberson NCC 11-04 3/4 2003
Becky Cable NCC 11-01 1/4 2000
Darby Sedler NCC 10-10 3/4 2003
Lisa Bell NCC 9-07 2001
Sarah Boese UND 8-06 3/4 2003
High Jump
Wendy Kinneberg Moorhead 5-08 1/2 1990
Sandi Walford Concordia 5-08 1986
Julie Johnson NCAA II 5-07 3/4 2000
Allyson Grohnke Moorhead 5-07 1/2 1987
Pam Cole NCC 5-06 1984
Cristy Risberg NCC 5-05 1/2 1993
Shosti Vorachek Moorhead 5-05 1/2 2000
Delayne Gilbertson NDSCS 5-04 1/2 1987
Kim Beireger Moorhead 5-04 1989
Laurie Boeddeker Moorhead 5-04 1993
ALL-TIME BEST OUTDOOR PERFORMERS
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2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
OUTDOOR UTDOOR TOP OP 10
Event Site Mark Year
Long Jump
Laura Seifert Moorhead 18-09 1994
Brenda Schmitz NCC 18-07 3/4 1986
Sara Dupslaff NCC 18-05 1/2 1992
Kristin Stokes Fargo 18-00 1/2 2000
Karen Bergantine NCC 17-11 3/4 1986
Brenda Dietrich UND 17-11 3/4 1989
Cristy Risberg UND 17-09 3/4 1993
Wendy Kinneberg UND 17-09 1989
Tracy Brandt UND 17-08 1993
Ramona Berthold NCC 17-07 1984
Triple Jump
Suzanne Bergantine NCC 38-02 3/4 1998
Kristin Stokes NCC 37-09 3/4 1998
Sara Dupslaff Drake 37-09 1/2 1992
Jackie Kensinger NCC 37-00 1/4 2003
Jen Halstenson Fargo 36-10 2000
Shosti Vorachek Emporia, KS 36-09 3/4 2001
Chantel Larson NCC 36-09 3/4 1996
Steph Campbell UND 36-04 1/2 2000
Ramona Berthold NCC 35-04 1/4 1984
Pam Cole NCC 35-02 1984
Shot Put
Traci Werner NCAA II 46-02 1/2 1990
Diana Trager NCAA II 45-05 1/4 1991
Nancy Fleischhacker UND 43-11 3/4 1987
Misty Langseth NCC 43-04 1/4 1994
Andrea Charlebois SDSU 42-09 1996
Kati Drellack Bemidji 42-09 1999
Talia Merritt NW Missouri 42-05 2001
Judy Stamness UND 42-04 1983
Dana Olimb UND 41-09 1/2 2003
Tammy Gravning UND 41-07 1988
Discus
Talia Merritt NW Missouri 173-10 2001
Diana Trager NCC 153-07 1991
Traci Werner Concordia 148-06 1990
Shelly Ballard NDSCS 145-10 1988
Misty Langesth Moorhead 142-03 1993
Judy Stamness NCC 139-11 1983
Missy Wilson NCC/MIAA 139-05 1996
Andrea Charlebois UND 139-02 1998
Heidi Jessen NCC 134-11 1991
Nancy Fleischhacker UND 134-09 1985
Javelin
Vicky Besette Bemidji 149-00 1994
Dana Olimb UND 140-03 2003
Janet Connell NCC 138-06 1987
Autumn Ballweber NCC/MIAA 137-03 1996
Lisa Perrault NCC 134-00 1983
Sherry Midgarden NCC 133-01 1990
Tanya Edwards Moorhead 131-06 1989
Kris Sorenson UND 130-00 1995
Laura Gillespie Dickinson 127-02 1981
Cassie Felber UND 127-02 2003
Heptathlon
Allyson Grohnke NCC 4279 pts. 1987
Becky Cable NCC 4264 1999
Jackie Kensinger Emporia 4247 2003
Beth Morris NCC 4088 2003
Cristy Risberg CMSU 3993 1993
Wendy Kinneberg Drake 3668 1988
Chantel Larson NCC/MIAA 3322 1996

LL-A
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MERICANS
JACKIE ACKIE
AUWARTER
Middle Distance
Breckenridge, Minn.
1998-2002
Jackie Auwarter was one of the most versatile female track and
cross country athletes to compete for the Fighting Sioux.
Auwarter earned All-America honors in the 800-meters at the
2002 NCAA Indoor Championships, setting a school record.
She is also one of only three Fighting Sioux cross country runners
to compete in four NCAA Championships, which included
a second-place and two fourth-place national team finishes.
Auwarter graduated from UND holding four school records in
track and seven additional all-time top-10 performances in the
long sprints and middle distances.
MISSY ISSY
BERG
Sprints
Odin, Minn.
1997-2001
Missy Berg earned three All-America honors and won four
North Central Conference titles during her career as a Fighting
Sioux. Her first All-America award was in the 400 hurdles at the
1999 NCAA Championships. That same year she also won the
NCC 400 hurdles. In 2000 and again in 2001 Berg was All-
American in the 1,600-meter relay at the outdoor national meet.
Both years the relay team set a school record at the NCAA
Championships. Berg also won the NCC 800-meters and was a
member of the winning 3,200-meter relay at the 2000 indoor
championships. She is a member of the outdoor school record
3,200-meter relay team. Berg was named to the North Central
Conference At-Large Academic Team. She was also named
three times to the United State Track Coaches Association All-
Academic Team and was a 2000 GTE Academic All-District
choice. Berg was awarded a post-graduate academic scholarship
by the NCAA in 2001.
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STEPH TEPH
BRUENING
CC/Distance
Alexandria, Minn.
1989-94
CAROLYN AROLYN
BUSSE-ORSUA
Cross Country
Arlington, Minn.
1998-2002
2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Steph Bruening is one of the most decorated female track and
cross country athletes in Fighting Sioux history. Bruening garnered
10 NCAA All-America honors and was the national runner-up
four times in three different events. She is one of only
three NCAA Division II athletes to earn All-America honors in
every distance event; the 1,500, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000meters.
Bruening won four individual conference titles and still
holds the outdoor NCC 3,000-meter record. Bruening also holds
three current Fighting Sioux school records in track. She was
twice named the UND Female Scholar Athlete of the year and
was a three-time recipient of the GTE Academic All-America
Team award. In her senior year Bruening was named a top ten
finalist for the prestigious NCAA Woman of The Year award
presented to the nation's top female athlete for all divisions of
the NCAA.
Carolyn Busse-Orsua capped her Fighting Sioux career by earning
All-America honors at the 2002 NCAA Cross Country
Championships. She is one of only three Fighting Sioux athletes
to compete in four NCAA national cross country meets and
helped lead the Sioux to two NCAA fourth-place finishes during
her career. Orsua was a two-time all-region cross country
performer and earned two All-North Central Conference awards
in cross country. In track, Orsua was UND’s first ever athlete to
qualify for the NCAA meet in the steeplechase. She was named
three times to the NCAA Division II All-Academic Cross
Country Team and was twice selected to the USTCA All-
Academic Track Team. Orsua left her mark in the books with a
Fighting Sioux record in the steeplechase and four all-time top-
10 performances in the long distances.

MARIE ARIE
CREP
Middle Distance
Bemidji, Minn.
1989-94
Marie Crep also ranks as one of the Fighting Sioux's most highly
decorated female track athletes in the program’s history. Crep
earned All-America honors four times including two third place
finishes. In 1994 Crep became the first UND female track athlete
to win a NCAA national title when she captured first place in the
indoor 800-meter run. She won three conference titles setting a
1993 NCC record in the 500-meters. She left her mark in the
record books setting five UND school records during her
Fighting Sioux career.
EVETTE VETTE
EDMONDSON
Distance
Kansas City, Minn.
1991-93
Evette Edmondson earned NCAA All-America honors in the
10,000-meters after transferring from Highland Community
College in Kansas where she was national runner-up in the
NJCAA 5,000 and 10,000-meters. During her two-year career at
UND she won two conference 5,000-meter titles which included
a NCC record run in 1992. She was also a key member of the
1992 Fighting Sioux’s North Central Conference champion
cross country team earning all-conference and all-region honors.
HEIDI EIDI
FAUL
Long Sprints
Powers Lake, N.D.
2000-03
29
2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
LL-A
ALLYSON LLYSON
GROHNKE
Jumps
Moorhead, Minn.
1986-87
A LL-AMERICANS
MERICANS
Allyson Grohnke was the first ever Fighting Sioux track and field
athlete to earn NCAA All-America honors when she placed fifth
in the high jump at the 1987 NCAA national championships.
Before transferring to the University of North Dakota from
NDSCS, she was the NJCAA national champion in the heptathlon.
In her two years at UND, Grohnke was a five-time allconference
selection in the high jump and heptathlon. She still
holds the UND heptathlon record.
JULIE ULIE
JOHNSON
Jumps
Excelsior, Minn.
2000-03
Julie Johnson was a five-time All-American in the high jump.
After winning the NCC indoor high jump title as a freshman,
Johnson went on to become the first Fighting Sioux track and
field athlete to earn indoor All-America honors each of her four
years at UND. Julie also was the first to receive both indoor and
outdoor All-America honors in track as a freshman. Her highest
national finish was in her senior year when she placed second at
the NCAA meet with a school record jump of 5-8 3/4. Julie was
also named to the United States Coaches Association All-
Academic team four consecutive years.
Heidi Faul was a three-time All-American for the Fighting
Sioux. In 2000, she anchored the 1,600-meter relay to an eighthplace
finish at the outdoor national meet. At the 2001 NCAA
outdoor championship, Faul anchored the Sioux relay team to a
fourth-place finish and a school record of 3:45.05. Her third All-
America honor came in 2002 when she anchored the indoor
1,600-meter relay team to another fourth-place finish. Heidi finished
her career at UND holding four school records and 18 alltime
top ten Fighting Sioux performances. She won three NCC
track titles and was named three times to the United States Track
Coaches Association All-Academic team.

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MERICANS
WENDY ENDY
KINNEBERG
Jumps
Grand Forks, N.D.
1987-90
Wendy Kinneberg was the first female track athlete to be a
three-time All-America selection for the Fighting Sioux. She
never placed lower than third in NCC high jump competition
and won two conference high jump titles. Kinneberg was
named to the NCC At-Large All-Academic team. She left
UND with two school records and still holds the UND school
record for the outdoor high jump.
BECKY ECKY
LEPPARD
CC/Distance
Waconia, Minn
1997-2001
Becky Leppard is the most decorated track and field and cross
country athlete in Fighting Sioux history. She also ranks as one
of the school’s most decorated female athletes of all-time.
Leppard was a four-time NCAA runner-up in track in the 1,500meters
and mile run and placed second individually at the 2000
NCAA Cross Country Championships, leading the Sioux to a
second place team finish. She was named Regional Cross
Country Athlete of the Year in 1998 and was a finalist for the
NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year. Leppard earned nine
NCAA All-America honors and won an unprecedented 12
North Central Conference titles in the middle distance and distance
events, setting an outdoor conference record in the 1,500meters.
She left UND holding six Fighting Sioux school
records. Leppard was twice named UND's Athlete of the Year.
She was named three times to the North Central Conference At-
Large Academic Team. Leppard was named three times to the
NCAA All-Academic Cross Country Team and was a four-time
selection to the United States Track Coaches Association All-
Academic Track & Field team. Leppard was twice named to the
GTE Academic All-District At-Large team and to the Verizon
All Academic team. She was awarded a postgraduate academic
scholarship by the NCAA in 2001 was named NCAA Woman
of the Year for the state of North Dakota her senior year.
30
KIM IM
OLUND
CC/Distance
White Bear Lake, Minn.
1994-98
2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Kim Olund won the individual North Central Conference cross
country title in 1994 leading the Sioux to the conference title. In
1995 she captured the individual NCC championship and won
the North Central Regional meet. Olund was a three-time cross
country All-America twice placing in the top ten at the NCAA
national meet. She earned three All-America honors in track.
Olund won conference titles in the 10,000 and 5,000-meters and
in 1996 set the NCC record in the 10,000-meter. She was voted
the UND Rookie of the Year in 1995 and the UND Scholar
Athlete of the Year in 1997. She was a two-time USTCA All-
Academic team selection in track and was named three times to
the NCAA All-Academic cross country team.
KATIE ATIE
MARSCHEL
Middle Distance
Sartell, Minn.
1998-2002
Katie Marschel earned her first All-America honor with an
eighth-place finish in the mile run at the 2001 NCAA Indoor
Championships. She earned her second All-America in the mile
with a sixth-place finish at the 2002 indoor national meet.
Marschel won three individual NCC championships in track
and left her mark in the school record books in two relays: the
3,200-meter indoor relay and outdoor distance medley.
Marschel’s cross country career was no less spectacular. She is
one of only three Fighting Sioux cross country athletes to compete
in the NCAA national meet in all four years of her Fighting
Sioux career. She was instrumental in two of UND’s NCAA
fourth-place team finishes and in the Sioux’s second-place
national finish in 2000. In 2002 she earned All-NCC cross country
honors. Marshcel was named to the NCAA Division II All-
Academic Team and earned two USTCA All-Academic Team
honors in track.

APRIL PRIL
MAINE
CC/Distance
Holdingford, Minn.
1998-2001
April Maine's first All-American honor came in 2000 when she
placed sixth in the 1,500-meters at the NCAA Outdoor
Championships. She qualified for three national cross country
championships helping the team to a fourth-place finish in 1999
and then earning All-America honors in 2000, helping the team
to a second-place national finish. Maine finished her career as a
member of three Fighting Sioux school record relay teams. She
earned ten All-North Central Conference Track honors and was
named twice to the All-North Central Region Cross Country
Team. Maine was named three times to the NCAA All-
Academic Cross Country team. She was a three-time selection to
the United States Track Coaches Association All-Academic
Team and twice selected to the North Central Conference
Academic At-Large Team. She was also named to the 2000 GTE
Academic All-District At-Large Team.
TALIA ALIA
MERRITT
Throws
Fargo, N.D.
2001-03
Merritt earned All-America honors in 2001 when she placed
third in the discus at the NCAA outdoor championships. She also
won the 2001 North Central Conference discus competition with
a then NCC record throw. Her personal best of 173-10 her freshman
year established a new school record and was one of the top
ten all-time performances in the discus for Division II.
LOUISE OUISE
RONNERMAN
CC/Distance
Gothenburg, Sweden
1991-94
31
HEATHER EATHER
PARR
2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
LL-A
Cross Country
East Grand Forks, Minn.
1992-95
A LL-AMERICANS
MERICANS
Heather Parr earned All-America honors in cross country leading
the Fighting Sioux to a fourth-place team finish at the NCAA
championships in 1994. She was named all-conference and allregion
in cross country twice and was a two-time all-conference
performer in track. Parr was named the UND Rookie of the Year
in 1994 and the UND Scholar Athlete of the Year in 1995.
SHEILA HEILA
PEXSA
CC/Distance
Alexandria, Minn.
1987-92
Sheila Pexsa earned All-America cross country honors for the
Fighting Sioux in 1991, and was named All-America in the 1,500meters
her senior year of track. Pexsa qualified for three NCAA
cross country championships and placed in the top ten at the conference
and regional championship meet each of her first three
years. Pexsa earned three All-NCC and all-region honors in cross
country. She was a three-time all-conference track performer and
was named to the North Central Conference at-large academic
team.
Louise Ronnerman garnered four NCAA All-America awards in the
1,500-meters and earned All-America cross country honors with a
12th-place finish at the 1992 NCAA championships. She came to
UND as a transfer from Mount SAC Community College in
California. Ronnerman earned All-NCC honors in every North
Central Conference cross country and track competition of her
Fighting Sioux career. She won NCC 1,500-meter titles in 1992 and
1993 and set the NCC 1,500-meter record at the 1992 conference
championships. Ronnerman was also selected to the North Central
Conference At-Large All-Academic Team. An aviation major, she was
named the National Collegiate Pilot of the Year in 1993 and 1994.

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CINDY INDY
SCOTT
Middle Distance
Sartell, Minn.
1994-99
Cindy Scott was named All-America in the 800-meters in 1998.
She was a three-time all-conference selection in track and won
NCC titles in the 1,000-meters and 3,200-meter relay. She qualified
for three NCAA cross country championships and was a
key member of the 1994 Fighting Sioux NCC and North Central
Region championship cross country team earning all-region
honors her freshman year. She was the 1999 UND North
Central Conference Honor athlete and was the Fighting Sioux
nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Scott was
twice named to the USTCA All-Academic team and the NCC
At-Large Academic Team.
DIANA IANA
TRAGER
Throws
Winninpeg, Manitoba
1989-91
Diana Trager earned All-America honors in the shot put with
a third-place finish at the 1991 outdoor national meet. She also
qualified for national competition in the discus. Her best throw
of 153-07 was a UND school record until 2001. Trager earned
five all-conference awards finishing no lower than third in the
indoor and outdoor shot or discus her junior and senior seasons.
She was also named to the All-NCC At-Large Academic
Team.
32
TRACI RACI
WERNER
Throws
Appleton, Wisc.
1990-91
2003-2004 UND Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Traci Werner was a two-time All-America in the shotput.
Werner still holds the Fighting Sioux record for both the
indoor and outdoor shot. In two years of NCC competition she
placed no lower than second in the indoor or outdoor shot put
and discus. She won two North Central Conference shot put
titles before she was forced by injury to retire from throwing
in 1991.
JESSICA ESSICA
WILLIAMS
Sprints
Larimore, N.D.
1998-2002
Jess Williams earned NCAA All-America honors three times in
her Fighting Sioux career, all in the 1,600-meter relay.
Williams’ first All-America award came at the 2000 NCAA
Outdoor Championships, where the 1,600-meter relay team
placed eighth and set a UND record. That was followed by a
fourth-place finish at the 2001 national meet, again in schoolrecord
time. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2002,
Williams earned her third All-America honor with another
record-setting fourth-place in the 1,600-meter relay. Williams
won two NCC titles while at UND and was a multiple all-NCC
performer. She ended her career holding three school records
and was listed an additional 19 times on UND’s all-time top-10
performances list. Williams was three times named to the
USTCA All-Academic Track and Field Team.