College track and field: Kohlwey staying on target heading into NCAA meet

Photo courtesy of UMD AthleticsMinnesota Duluth senior Danielle Kohlwey (center) will run in two events at this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. — Photo courtesy of UMD Athletics Minnesota Duluth senior Danielle Kohlwey (center) will run in two events at this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

By Jon Nowacki

March 06, 2019 at 6:30 PM

The recently refurbished Ward Wells Field House was abuzz with activity Tuesday afternoon on the Minnesota Duluth campus.

There were runners doing laps, jumpers practicing the pole vault and throwers working on their form in the discus and hammer throw. If you didn't look twice, you might get run over.

"This isn't even busy," first-year UMD women's track coach Laura Harmon said.

UMD only qualified two for this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kan. - senior Danielle Kohlwey and freshman Haleigh Reindl - making all the activity seem a bit surprising, but athletes are already prepping for the outdoor season.

"As a track coach, with cross country followed by indoor and outdoor, you appreciate your summers," Harmon said.

And nobody is appreciating her last go-round more than Kohlwey, who is making her third straight national indoor appearance after finishing fourth in the 60-meter hurdles last year at the same venue. Prelims are Friday and finals Saturday.

"I just feel more prepared," said Kohlwey, a marketing and graphic design major from Onalaska, Wis. "I know what the warm-up areas are like, I know some of the competition and I know what the track feels like. It's a fast track. It's kind of cool being there, in this arena. I've been there before, so that's really neat. It's exciting. It's my last year, so I want to do my best."

Kohlwey is an interesting contrast from her teammate, Reindl. Where Kohlwey comes across as all business, Reindl is happy-go-lucky, just happy to be there, the pride of Waterford, Wis. (population 5,368).

Reindl is an up-and-comer. She will compete in the 800, where her qualifying time of 2 minutes, 11.60 seconds is only 17th, but she's the only freshman in the field.

"It's incredible," she said upon hearing of that distinction.

If the former Wisconsin state champion shaves even a second or two off each year, look out.

"Making nationals was a goal. I just didn't know if it would be indoor or outdoor," Reindl said. "I'm still learning. My goal now is to make it into finals. Let's keep the momentum going."

Kohlwey also will compete in the 200, where she was just one spot shy of qualifying for the finals last year. Her 60 hurdles qualifying time of 8.30 seconds was just .01 off her school record set in 2018 and is second-fastest in the nation this season. The top time belongs to San Francisco State junior Monisha Lewis (8.21), who Kohlwey competed against at outdoor nationals last season, where Lewis finished a split-second ahead of her.

After indoor nationals, Kohlwey will continue training, just like her teammates, for the outdoor season. She will graduate in May with plans to eventually move to Oregon and pursue professional running.

"My goal in the hurdles is to be a national champion," Kohlwey said. "(Lewis) is a powerhouse. She can get it done, but anything can happen. I'm only a stride behind her, and when you look at it that way, it's not that much. Fortunately, I don't really get nervous for the hurdles anymore. I just trust in my abilities."

By Jon Nowacki

Jon Nowacki joined the News Tribune in August 1998 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Stephen, Minnesota, in the northwest corner of the state, where he was actively involved in school and sports and was a proud member of the Tigers’ 1992 state championship nine-man football team.

After graduating in 1993, Nowacki majored in print journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, serving as editor of the college paper, “The Aquin,” and graduating with honors in December 1997. He worked with the Associated Press during the “tobacco trial” of 1998, leading to the industry’s historic $206 billion settlement, before moving to Duluth.

Nowacki started as a prep reporter for the News Tribune before moving onto the college ranks, with an emphasis on Minnesota Duluth football, including coverage of the Bulldogs’ NCAA Division II championships in 2008 and 2010.

Nowacki continues to focus on college sports while filling in as a backup on preps, especially at tournament time. He covers the Duluth Huskies baseball team and auto racing in the summer. When time allows, he also writes an offbeat and lighthearted food column entitled “The Taco Stand,” a reference to the “Taco Jon” nickname given to him by his older brother when he was a teenager that stuck with him through college. He has a teenage daughter, Emma.

Nowacki can be reached at jnowacki@duluthnews.com or (218) 380-7027. Follow him on Twitter @TacoJon1.

College track and field: Kohlwey staying on target heading into NCAA meet

The recently refurbished Ward Wells Field House was abuzz with activity Tuesday afternoon on the Minnesota Duluth campus. There were runners doing laps, jumpers practicing the pole vault and throwers working on their form in the discus and hammer...