WINONA, Minn. - Three Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic conference individual champions.

Three NCAA Division III National Championship qualifiers.

One season.

Now, the biggest question facing Saint Mary’s University track and field coach Kirk Nauman is: What can you do for an encore?

In a word - more.

“To get three people to the national meet was quite an accomplishment for those individuals, but to me, that was just the tip of the iceberg,” said Nauman, who returns two national qualifiers in Ellen Koranda (Blue Earth, Minn) in the 1,500 and Jenny Folgers (McHenry, Ill.) in the 100 hurdles. “Last year was a bit of a learning year for everyone - I had to learn what my athletes were all about and they had to learn what I’m all about. I think we made great strides from the beginning of last year’s (indoor) season to the end of the outdoor season - but I’m wasn’t satisfied with where we were at, and I hope my athletes weren’t, either.”

So, rather than relax during the off-season, Nauman hit the recruiting trail - and hit the jackpot.

“Recruiting went well,” understated Nauman, who brought in several athletes that he predicts will turn a few heads around the MIAC this season. “I’m excited about the season - we’ve got some outstanding people coming back, and with the new people we’ve brought in, we should be ready to make a pretty big splash at the conference championships.”
How big?

That, Nauman admits, depends on how his teams develop.

“Jenny and Ellen have proven that they are capable of performing at a national-caliber level, but they aren’t the only returners we have that should really make some noise this year,” said Nauman, rattling off the names of more than a dozen returners - including Ashley Luehmann (Lewiston, Minn.), who just missed a national championship appearance in the javelin, Amanda Weinmann (Rochester, Minn.), a third-place finisher at the MIAC Championships in the shot put, and Ashley Dingels (Gibbon, Minn.), who missed most last season with a knee injury, after earning All-American honors her sophomore year. “We also had a number of other athletes get a taste of success in the MIAC - Autumn Valk (Appleton, Wis. / hurdles), Maria Roche (New Prague, Minn. / 800), Megan Mason (Rochester, Minn. / high jump and pole vault) and Beth Cleveland (Wausau, Wis. / throws) - and now they want more.

“On the men’s side, things are looking much brighter,” continued Nauman. “We have a number of new athletes who I would consider blue-collar guys - not flashy, but they get the work done. Their work ethic carries them a long way, and I have seen a number of surprises thus far in practice.

“Our numbers are up this year, which is great to see. But the best part is, we’re not only deeper this year, but our depth is more talented than it’s ever been.”

Which is why Nauman figures a three- or four-place jump up the MIAC ladder isn’t out of the realm of possibilities this year.

“You take the returners we’ve got, add to that people like Rob Friendt (Ogden, Utah), a provisional qualifier in the heptathlon at the Division I level; Emily Bartusek (Albert Lea, Minn.), one of the top sprinters in the state of Minnesota the last four years; and Becky Baron (Rapid River, Mich.), a state champion in the 100 and 200; and Lee Coleman (Gays Mills, Wis.), a state place finisher in the triple jump and sprints; and the potential to do great things is there,” said Nauman, adding that the addition of assistant coaches Ward Berndt and Jackie Luehmann has also been a big plus this season. “With the staff we have in place, and the talent with which to work with, I honestly think we have the opportunity (on the women’s side), to climb into at least the top half at the MIAC (Outdoor) Championships (after placing 9th a year ago). And on the guys side, I think we have a shot to move up (from 10th) to at least seventh.

“I think we have all the pieces - now we just have to put the entire puzzle together.”