The University of Minnesota Duluth men's and women's indoor track teams will compete Friday and Saturday in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Championships inside Myers Field House in Mankato, Minn. The Meet will get underway at 9:30 a.m. with the men's heptathlon.

After a strong season by both the men and women, here's a look at athletes to watch who could find themselves with strong performances in Mankato.

Women to Watch on the Track:

Graduate Shaelyn Hostager, 5,000 Meters, 3,000m and DMR – The reigning 5,000 meter (and 10,000 meter) outdoor champion has run the third fastest time this season in the NSIC – a 17:13.89 on Feb. 13 at the SDSU Indoor Classic. Hostager will also compete in the 3,000m (she has the ninth fast conference title at 10:12.57) and Distance Medley Relay.

Senior Madeline Verke, 800 and Mile – Verke has had an impressive indoor campaign, and currently owns the conference's fastest time in the 800m at 2:12.79. Verke also ran the second-fastest mile time in the NSIC back on Feb. 13 at the SDSU Classic – a 4:58.80. Both times were PRs for the sixth-year runner.

Sophomore Avary Fitzpatrick, 600 4x4 – Fitzpatrick has the league's fourth fastest 400m time, but she will hit the starting line on the 600m and the 4x4 instead this weekend. Her 600m time currently is the fifth-fastes in the NSIC, a 1:36.93 run at the Snowshoe Open on Feb. 20.

Junior Ellie Hanowski, 800, Mile and DMR – Hanowski will have a busy weekend, but she will enter the 800m race with the third fastest time this season, a 2:15.12 run at the Snowshoe Open last weekend.

Men to Watch on the Track: 

Senior Brock Unger, 60m, 400m and 4x4 – Unger finished third in the 400m at the outdoor championships last spring. Look for the senior to battle for the podium in the same event – he ran the sixth fastest time – along with teammate Billy Auvin – in the NSIC this season, a 49.27 at the SDSU Indoor Classic. That time also set a school record in the 400m.

Sophomore Austin Kehr, 600m 4x4 – Kehr ran a 1:22.52 at the CSS Opener back on Dec. 13, the fifth fastest time in the conference this season. He is also a part of UMD's fourth-fastest NSIC time this year – a 3:21.11 set at the SDSU Indoor Classic on Feb. 13.

Senior Will Heydt, Triple Jump, Long Jump – Heydt has also had big season, and currently owns the second – longest triple jump in the NSIC with at 15.05m, set at the Mark Schuck Open and Multi on Jan. 30 – also a PR.

Senior Jackson Weston, Weight Throw, Shot Put – Weston threw a 17.26m shot put last weekend at the Snowshoe Open, the fourth best time in the conference. He also has a 17.49m effort in the weight throw from last weekend, the 10th longest in NSIC this season.