GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Marian women's track and field team had an extremely profitable outing on the first day of the 2025 U.S. Marines NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships, as the Knights scored in both of their open events of the day while qualifying two relay teams to finals. The Knights scored two NAIA All-Americans on the day, with Nina Marinkovic and Delaney Teachnor earning their first career awards.

Nina Marinkovic began the day for the Knights competing in the heptathlon, starting her five-event grind in the 60m hurdles. Marinkovic opened the day by winning her heat with a time of 8.89 seconds, scoring 933 points for her outing. The sophomore followed up with a sixth-place effort in the high jump as she cleared 1.62m, scoring an additional 759 points. Marinkovic earned a PR in the shot put hitting 8.41m in the event, staying in the top-eight overall through three events as she added 426 points to her total. Staying competitive throughout the meet, the second-year member of the program scored a seventh-place effort in the long jump, scoring 677 to her total.

The pentathlon's final event was the 800m, and entering the race Marinkovic held eighth place overall for the day. In the 800m, Marinkovic clocked a 2:36.45, scoring 614 points which was enough to keep her hold for eighth place in the pentathlon and secure an NAIA All-American nod. Marinkovic scored a total of 3409 points, setting her own personal best as she scored an All-American honor for her eighth place finish.

Also earning a podium finish on Thursday was freshman Delaney Teachnor, who finished in a tie for eighth place in the pole vault. The young Knight cleared her first two heights with ease as she scored good marks at 3.45m and 3.60m, before taking two attempts at 3.70m. With her effort at 3.70m, Teachnor moved into a tie in the standings with Oliva Wingo of Viterbo, as both athletes would go out at 3.75m to finish deadlocked for eighth place. Teachnor earned a half-point for the Knights team total.

Marian's relay teams both qualified for the finals after their efforts on Thursday, as both the 4x400m relay and 4x800m relays were blazing around the tracks. The 4x800m group ran first, with the team of Gracie Fields, Adrianna Boyd, Summer Rempe, and Katie Woods clocking the second-fastest time in program history as they won their heat in a 9:13.36 time. The 4x800m relay runs for All-American honors on Friday, as they will be the No. 3 seed in the finals. The 4x400m relay team of Hanna Reuter, Jovana Milosevic, Emma Edwards, and Janae Bailey dusted the Marian school record with their efforts, as the team posted their best race of the season with a 3:49.09 time. The new school record has the Knights as the No. 6 team in the finals, as they broke the previous record by three seconds. 

On Friday the Knights will have a chance to score more points to their team total, as the 4x800m relay will run for All-American honors. Additionally, the Knights will compete in the weight throw and high jump as they aim to add to their All-American totals, while the Marian will have athletes compete in the open 200m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, Mile, and 60m hurdle preliminary races. 

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