RENO, Nev. – With the beginning of the 2022-23 track and field season kicking off this Saturday at the Spokane Invitational, the position groups led by Coach Shantel Twiggs, Paul Heglar, Scott Williamson, and Kirk Elias are looking forward to another stellar season, with hopes to see even more success than in previous years.
 
Coming off an indoor season for the books – one in which the women's team claimed fifth at the Mountain West Championships, the highest finish since 2017 – Nevada is ready for another run around the track.
 
The momentum carried over into the outdoor season, the Pack ending the season with a fourth-place finish, matching the 2017 and 2019 finishes as the highest in the program's Mountain West history (since 2013). The end of the outdoor season, however, did mean the end of a few dominant and significant collegiate careers, including that of seven-time Track and Field All-American Nicola Ader. During her five-year career, she wrote her way into the Nevada record books in the long jump, high jump, pentathlon, and heptathlon, while also becoming the school record holder in the 60m hurdles. Ader returns to lead the Pack on the sidelines as a graduate assistant, her unmatched talent no longer in competition on the track.
 
Making up the 42-athlete roster this year are women from all over the world, many of the returning talents showcased and written in the history books multiple times, both individually and as a team, all while leading by example of what it means to be a part of the Wolf Pack. With open arms, the team will welcome a handful of newcomers to the squad, who will be looking to make their mark and continue the success this team is no stranger to, ultimately reaching their individual and team goals. 
 
Head coach Shantel Twiggs, who is entering her 19^th season with Nevada and who leads the sprinters, hurdlers, and alongside Coach Paul Heglar, the pole vaulters, is looking forward to the Pack continuing the legacy of this historic success this season after seeing development and growth across all the event groups during the 2022 indoor season.
 
"In the sprints, hurdles, and pole vault groups, we showed grit, fortitude, and relentless pursuit of goals even with being riddled with injury and battling through the pandemic," Twiggs said. "We discovered trusting the process and with also trusting ourselves, we could reach our goals. Fifth year Emily Costello is the illustration of 'it's not how you start, but how you finish.' Costello spent the first two months of the fall training recovering from surgery to scoring in both the 400m and 200m at the Indoor Mountain West Championships, rewriting the record books in the 400m and making significant breakthroughs in the 200m. Camrin Dolcini as well, bringing home the bronze with her 4.02m performance in the pole vault."
 
SPRINTS
 
For the sprinters, the group will see a handful of returners and some fresh faces this season.
 
First up is Emily Costello, returning for her fifth-year season, coming off an impressive 2022 slate. Competing in eight meets during the season and earning 14 top-five finishes, Costello qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary in the 200m and 400m dash, after her performances at the Outdoor Mountain West Championships. At the preliminary, Costello finished in 28^th place in both events, just missing a spot in the 200m finals by four-hundredths of a second. At the Mountain West Championships, she earned silver in the 200m dash, a new personal best time in 23.30, and earned bronze in the 400m, with a time of 52.95. This time bettered her own school record, previously held at 53.89. Costello was also a part of the 4x400m relay team that broke the school record with a time of 3:43.38 and a part of the 4x100m relay team that moved to eighth all-time at Nevada in 46.32. On top of those performances, Costello earned a personal best in the 100m dash (11.61).
 
Returning to the Pack for her junior season is Lillian Gregg. During the 2022 season, Gregg competed in 11 meets during the indoor and outdoor seasons. Along with Costello, Gregg was a part of the 4x400m relay team during the Mountain West Championships that broke the school record with their time of 3:43.38 and was a part of the 4x100m relay team that moved to eighth all-time at Nevada. She had nine top-10 finishes and earned a personal best in the 400m dash with a time of 46.32. During the indoor season, the first with the Pack, she saw a best time in the 200m dash (25.23) at the Mountain West Championships.
 
Louisiana native Halyn Senegal will look towards competing in her second season with Nevada. The sophomore competed in two meets during her indoor season, earning a top-five time in the 600m run at the Don Kirby Invitational (1:38.16). Senegal also had the second fastest Wolf Pack time in the 400m dash at the Mountain West Championships with her time of 57.02. Senegal will look to compete at her first outdoor season this spring.
 
Coming in as a sophomore from Belmont Abbey College, Brynn McNabb will start her first season with Nevada. McNabb's personal bests from last season are in the 200m (27.11), 400m (1:02.97), 100m (13.60), and the 60m dash (8.57). McNabb also was a part of the 4x100m relay that placed ninth at the 2022 Conference Carolinas Track and Field Championships.
 
Two newcomers in freshman standing will be becoming a part of the Pack this season. Jasmine Harris from Truckee, and Annalies Kalma from New Zealand. Harris is the Truckee High School record holder in the 100m (12.56), 200m (25.80), and the 4x100m relay (50.23), and was the women's 4x100 state champion along with the 400m state runner up. Kalma has a similar list of accolades, holding the Waikato and North Island Secondary Schools senior girls 400m record. She won the New Zealand women's 400m title in 2020 and the New Zealand Under20 400m title in 2021.
 
New to the squad transferring from North Dakota State, graduate Bonét Henderson will join the Pack this January. Beginning her career at the University of Mary, Henderson was a part of the indoor conference championship team in 2020 and 2021. After two years, Henderson then transferred to NDSU, where she had four individual top-10 finishes at the Summit League Conference Championships for the indoor and outdoor seasons, including her personal best 200m time of 24.33, tying for 10^th-fastest in NDSU history. Other personal bests include a 7.67 in the 60m dash, and 11.98 in the 100m.
 
SPRINTS/HURDLES
 
The next group for Coach Twiggs includes three athletes, all making their return from last season. 
 
First up, the Pack will see experienced returner Carolyn Ross, entering her senior season, only with eligibility left for the outdoor season. Ross saw nine top-10 finishes throughout the season in the ten meets she competed in. She moved to fourth all-time at Nevada in the 400m hurdles with her time of 60.17 at the Outdoor Mountain West Championships. Ross was also a part of the 4x400m relay team that broke the school record (3:43.38).
 
Sarah Marske will be entering her second season with the Pack in junior standing. Marske moved into 10^th all-time at Nevada and a new personal best in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.24, while also being a part of the 4x100m relay team that moved into eighth all-time at Nevada (46.32). She competed in seven meets during the season, earning three top-10 finishes in the 100m hurdles.
 
Junior Kylie Burton, the last of the returners of this group, competed in seven meets during the season, and earned five top-10 finishes. Burton was a leg on the 4x400m relay team at the Mountain West Championships that helped break the school record with a time of 3:43.38. She earned a personal best time of 62.11 in the 400m hurdles, as well as personal bests in the 400m dash (58.79) and the 100m dash (12.62).
 
 
POLE VAULT
 
Lastly, Coach Twiggs alongside Coach Paul Heglar, will coach the last group of five athletes, all returners from last season.
 
Samantha Irwin competed in eight meets total throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, earning a personal best of 3.25m at the Washington State Invitational, whole finishing in the top-five twice during the outdoor season.
 
Entering her sophomore season, Camrin Dolcini had a monumental freshman year in both the outdoor and indoor seasons. During indoor, Dolcini made the all-time list in the pole vault, moving to eighth all-time with her mark of 3.82m. The outdoor season continued that momentum, when she earned a bronze medal at the Mountain West Championships, beating her previous best time with her mark of 4.02, sitting currently at fourth all-time at Nevada. With this mark, Dolcini qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary at the end of the season, and saw top-1o finishes in every pole vault event she competed in.
 
Las Vegas natives Alyssa Carson and Shayla Pedersen, joining Dolcini as sophomores, return to represent the Pack. Carson competed in two meets last season during indoor, her best mark a 3.10m. Pedersen competed in nine meets overall, with a 3.23m in the event as her best mark. She also had marks of 12.88 in the 100m dash and 26.59 in the 200m dash.
 
Rounding out the group is sophomore Hannah Watson. Watson earned her best mark in the pole vault at 3.36m, along with two top-five finishes in the event during the season. She also recorded marks of 13.71 in the 100m dash and 28.57 in the 200m dash.
 
"2023 will be something special with seniors Costello and Carolyn Ross competing in their final season with the Pack," Twiggs said. "We have more depth and I personally look forward to seeing Nevada break more school and personal records, overcome challenges, come together, and leave their mark."
 
The position groups under Coach Scott Williamson are looking to have another electrifying season. Williamson, who's entering his 12^th season with the Pack, is excited to get the season underway, as the groups he oversees will continue to raise the standard of success they've seen throughout the last couple of seasons.
 
 "I am really looking forward to getting this indoor season started and seeing all the hard work these ladies have put in over the last several months," said Williamson. "We graduated some amazing athletes who left their marks all over the record books and set the standard high. This group will continue that standard as we chase conference championships and All-American honors."
 
MULTIS
 
The first group will feature two familiar faces, one of who is returning for their final season, and two newcomers joining the Wolf Pack.
 
Graduate Hanah Smrt is going into her third and final season with the Pack, wrapping up her eligibility this indoor season. She made an immediate impact to the multis squad after transferring from Yuba College in 2020. During indoor season, Smrt moved to the ninth all-time spot at Nevada in the pentathlon with 3,504 points. Smrt earned five personal bests in five different events during the outdoor season; Heptathlon (4,825 points), 200m dash (25.58), 800m run (2:25.99) Shot put (9.72m), and the javelin throw (29.41).
 
Returning for her second season with the Pack is Washington native Kate Kadrmas. Kadrmas finished in seventh at the Indoor Mountain West Championships in the pentathlon, earning the team two points. The sophomore also recorded personal bests in the 800m run (2:29.44), the long jump (5.24), and the high jump (1.56). Kadrmas earned her best mark in the heptathlon during the season with 4,544 at the Outdoor Mountain West Championships.
 
The first of two newcomers joining the multis group will be freshman Valeria Paez Rueda from Mexico. Rueda was the national champion in 2022 but has never competed indoors. Rueda's personal bests include a 1.67 in the high jump and a heptathlon score of 4,698 points and will look to make an impact this year in multiple events.
 
The second is German native Johanna Haas, who will also be joining the Pack as a freshman. Some of Haas's accolades include being a part of the German Heptathlon Championship team from 2019-2021, and winning athlete of the year. Most of Haas's personal bests come from the 2021-2022 indoor and outdoor seasons, representing Germany, which include the heptathlon, where she earned 5,224 points. the long jump with a best mark of 5.92, and 100 hurdles where she ran 14.18.
 
JUMPS
 
The next group will include seven athletes, six veterans and one newcomer.
 
Kicking off the veterans for the jumps squad is junior Rayven Nealey, who last season broke the school record in the indoor triple jump with a mark of 12.65. She earned this mark at the Indoor Mountain West Championships, receiving a third-place podium finish, and six points for the Pack. She also earned two personal bests, improving her long jump (5.69) and 60m dash (7.70) at the championships. Continuing that momentum into the outdoor season, Nealey moved to ninth all-time at Nevada in the long jump with her 5.91m mark. The junior finished the season with 11 top-10 finishes.
 
Next is Maya Aiyuk, a junior out of Reno, Nevada. Aiyuk only competed in one meet during the indoor season and four meets in the outdoor season. Her best jump during indoor season was her mark of 11.05m in the triple jump, and in outdoor, her mark of 11.13m in the triple jump at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
 
Sophomore Natasha Chetty, who joined the Pack last season but did not compete, will look to make her start for the Pack this season. Specializing in the long and high jump, Chetty won the African Championships silver medal in 2019, and brought home the hardware after competing in the Indian Ocean Games, earning two gold medals. Her personal bests include a height of 6.04m in the long jump, and a mark of 1.77m in the high jump, which will add to the Pack's success this season.
 
Rounding out the veterans for the Pack is Argentina native Maria Milani. In the four meets Milani competed in, she broke the Argentina national record in the indoor long jump with her mark of 5.58m. She also moved to sixth all-time in Nevada in the indoor triple jump with a 12.28. Milani's outdoor season was successful as well, as she moved to the seventh all-time spot in the triple jump (12.30m) and acquired eight top-10 finishes during the season.
 
The jumps group will also see two talented freshmen joining the squad this season.
 
Joining the Wolf Pack from Eureka, Nevada, Isabella Minoletti will make her freshman season debut. Coming out of high school, Minoletti was a two-time state champion in the long jump and champion in the triple jump her senior year. She also holds Eureka high school records in the long and triple jumps, including the regional and state record in the triple.
 
Lastly, Sica Verwasch will look to carry her success from home country the Netherlands to the Pack this season. She became the national under20 record holder in the indoor triple jump in 2021 and 2022 and the under20 national champ in the long jump in 2021. Verwasch will look to to make an immediate impact in the Mountain West in those events.
 
 
JAVELIN
 
Coach Williamson's final group, the javelin throwers, include the smallest group of just three athletes, all returners from last season.
 
The first of the three returning is junior Emily Poole, who made her debut with the Pack last season after transferring from North Dakota State. Poole competed in six meets during the season and earned a bronze medal at the Outdoor Mountain West Championships in the javelin throw with a mark of 43.77. Out of her six competitions she competed in during the season, four ended with top-five finishes.
 
Second is sophomore and Eureka, Nevada native, Alia Minoletti. Last season, Minoletti competed in five meets during the season, seeing her best mark in the javelin (31.59m) at the Fresno State Invitational. In her senior year of high school, Minoletti finished in first place in the NIAA 1A State Championship for shot put.
 
Lastly, sophomore Izzy Steerman brought over her talents to the Pack from Oregon last season, named Rookie of the Year in 2018, and Standout athlete in 2019. Competing in seven meets, Steerman earned her best mark in the javelin (42.80) at the Outdoor Mountain West Championships, finishing in fifth place, giving the team four points. Steerman also earned four top-10 finishes throughout the season.
 
"The javelin squad is still working hard and getting ready for the outdoor season which starts in March," said Williamson.  "This event group has really shined over the years at the Mountain West Championships, and I am excited to see what this group can accomplish."
 
DISTANCE
 
The distance group, led by coach Kirk Elias, looks to continue the momentum after a solid, yet improved performance during the cross country season that wrapped up just a couple weeks ago at the NCAA Mountain Regional. Transitioning now into track season, Elias is looking forward to what the newcomers are able to bring to the table, while feeling confident the returners can capitalize on their performances from last season.
 
"The indoor season should be fun because we have a number of transfers who will make an impact to our team and any of our returners are much better than they were a year ago," says Elias.
 
The Pack will feature six returners along with four transfers, all of whom that competed during the cross country season. Rounding out the group are a pair of freshmen, who are all looking to have successful seasons on the track.
 
Sisters Emily and Abigail Clarke came to the team this past fall, Emily in graduate standing from Scripps College, Abigail coming from Regis University. Abigail will make her first collegiate career launch in the track distance events this season, while Emily has an experienced resume of competing on the track. During her time at Scripps, she earned personal bests in the 5000m (16:40), her best event, and the 300m (9:56.97). After jumping to the number five spot on Nevada's all-time list in the 6K during the cross season, Emily will have a good boost ahead of the start of the season, especially when competing in the 5000m.
 
 Marije Hijman and Paige Penrose are both new to the Nevada Wolf Pack, as well as NCAA Track and Field as a whole. Hijman is transferring from Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Back home in the Netherlands, Marije ran a personal best 4:32.16 in the 1500m as well as a 10:24.13 in the 3000m steeplechase, which she ran in June 2021. Hijman also ran the 6000m for Wolf Pack Cross Country, earning a time of 20:50.8, placing her 8^th all-time in Nevada history. Hijman will also be competing in the mile during indoor season. Penrose is transferring from the University of Wollongong in Australia. Penrose ran Cross Country for Nevada in the fall season, earning a 6000m personal best of 21:26.5 at the Bronco Invitational, which moved her into 14^th all-time for the Wolf Pack. This season, Nevada will see Penrose compete in the 5000m indoors and the 10K.
 
The first veteran, Alison Graf, is entering her second year competing for Nevada Track and Field. Last season Graf moved to 8^th all-time at Nevada in the Indoor 800m with a converted time of 2:12.75. During the Outdoor Season, Alison ran a 2:11.61 at the Bryan Clay Invitational 800m, moving her to 9^th all-time for Nevada. She also finished with a season best 4:36.02 at the Aztec 1500m.

Next is Reno Native, Madelyn Shipman, going into her second year for Nevada Track & Field. She did not compete during the Indoor Season but featured four times during the Outdoor season, including two top-10 finishes. Shipman's best time in the 1500m was 4:49.70 which she earned at the Mike Fanelli Classic. Madelyn also finished the year with a season best of 7:49.16 in the 2000m steeplechase and 11:39.22 in the 3000m steeplechase.

The next returner is junior Marena Middleton. Middleton competed in two meets during the 2022 Indoor season, she posted personal bests of 10:27.85 in the 3000m, placing her 6^th at the Washington State Invitational. Marena only competed in a single meet during the Outdoor season, earning a season best in the 5000m with her 18:10.07 time at the Mike Fanelli Classic.
Sophomore Claire Nelson competed in two Indoor meets last season, posting a mile time of 5:30.84 at the Dr. MLK Invitational. Nelson competed twice during the Outdoor season, earning a 11:45.70 time at the Fresno State 3000m steeplechase. She also finished with a time of 4:57.59 in the 1500m. This season, Nelson will step up and move to competing in the 5000m as well. Next, Redshirt Sophomore Liz Shaw, has only competed once in her Nevada career. At the 2022 Mike Fanelli Classic, she earned a 19:38.39 time in the 5000m.

Rounding out the veterans, Jasper Fievet returns for her second year competing for the Wolf Pack. Last year she competed twice, posting a 10:41.18 in the Dr. MLK 3000m run as well as a 19:10.32 in the WSU 5000m run. Fievet did not compete during the 2022 outdoor season but will primarily be a 5000m runner.

Freshman Ashley Boone and Josephine Ledford are lacing up for their first collegiate track season with Nevada. Boone saw all her personal bests as a senior out of Summit High School in her hometown of Bend, Oregon. Representing Mondo Track Club, her bests include the 1500m (5:13.78), and 3000m (10:43.46). Boone, like Fievet, will mainly be competing in the 5000m. Delaware native Ledford comes to Nevada out of Lake Forest High School, competing in both track and cross country all four years. Ledford has the school record in the 3200m (13:14.43) and was named the county champion in both sports from 2019-2020.

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