The UCCS men’s and women’s track and field teams took home 16 All-American placings at the national championships as part of a busy weekend for Division II sports.
The lacrosse team opened their RMAC season with a win and a loss at home. The softball team swept a conference series for the third time this season, while the baseball team was swept in a series.
2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships from March 13 to March 15. Over the course of three days, they earned 6 first team and 10 second team All-American honors. First team recognizes the top 8 finishers in an event, while second team recognizes runners who placed 9th-16th.
First team All-American performances:
- Senior Anna Fauske was fourth in the women’s 5000m when she ran a UCCS record 16:15.06 on March 13. Fauske finished fifth in the women’s 3000m with a time of 9:28.74 on March 15.
- Redshirt Senior Richard Safoh’s long jump mark of 7.31m put him in seventh place in the event. He earned first team All-America honors for the second consecutive year in long jump on March 14.
- Redshirt junior Jagger Zlotoff earned first team All-America honors for the third consecutive year in the men’s mile when he ran it in 4:02.24 to finish fifth.
- Sophomore Ashton Whisler finished sixth in the men’s 400 with a time of 47.71.
- Redshirt senior Caiden Macktinger cleared 5.24m in pole vault to finish eighth in the event.
With the completion of the indoor championships, the track and field season now moves outdoors. The men’s and women’s team will be in action at the Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational on March 21 and March 22.
Lacrosse wins RMAC opener; loses to Colorado Mesa
The lacrosse team beat Westminster in the first conference game of the season on March 14.
The Mountain Lions led throughout for a final score of 16-12. Scoring was split between 8 Mountain Lions, with freshman midfielder Sofia Watts scoring a team-high 4 goals. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Nunez had 10 saves.
UCCS was chasing Colorado Mesa on March 16. Colorado Mesa got away to an early lead, which the Mountain Lions tied, 3-3, in the first quarter. After that, UCCS was unable to catch up to Colorado Mesa. Colorado Mesa won 18-15. Watts again recorded a team-high 4 goals, while redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Ellen Gernet recorded 9 saves.
Lacrosse’s record is now 4-2 overall and split 1-1 in conference. The team hits the turf next on March 21 at Fort Lewis.
Softball sweeps New Mexico Highlands
The Mountain Lions put together their third conference sweep of the season when beating New Mexico Highlands in all 4 games on March 16 and March 17. Junior pitcher Kailey Bond was named the RMAC Pitcher of the Week for her performances in games 3 and 4 of the series.
In game 1, the Mountain Lions were playing catchup as they went scoreless in the first 5 innings. In the top of the seventh, UCCS took over the lead when an error from New Mexico Highlands saw sophomore infielder Laynee Case and junior catcher Katie Steinmetz each score to put the score at 4-2. Redd scored a run when junior outfielder Bailey Olerich was grounded out from left field for UCCS’ final score of the game, 5-3.
In game 2, UCCS put together 7 runs in the top of the third. New Mexico Highlands had a run in the first and second innings but didn’t score for the remainder of the game, allowing UCCS to win, 9-2.
In game 3, UCCS set the tone by scoring 6 runs in the first inning. They scored 8 more runs in the remaining 4 innings for a sweeping 14-4 victory.
Game 4 saw consistent scoring by the offense and decisive pitching from Bond that allowed just 1 run for New Mexico Highlands. Bond struck out 5 batters across six innings for the Mountain Lions to win 11-1 and sweep the series.
Softball’s record stands at 20-10 overall, and 14-5 in conference. They play next in a 4-game series against Colorado Mesa on March 22 and March 23.
Baseball drops series against Regis
UCCS was beaten in all 4 games against Regis from March 14 to March 16.
In game 1, UCCS was unable to make up a 4-run deficit that began in the second, giving Regis the win, 9-6.
A similar situation unfolded in game 2, when after 3 innings Regis had a 10-0 lead. UCCS was only able to score 3 runs in the remaining four innings, ending the game 12-3.
Games 3 and 4, like game 2, ended in Regis leading by a wide margin. Game 3 was won by Regis, 11-2, while game 4 was won 13-3.
Senior Anna Fauske at the RMAC Indoor Championships on March 1. Archive photo by Lillian Davis.