FAYETTE, Iowa - The Upper Iowa women's track and field team begins the indoor season on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Chelsey Henkenius Invitational hosted by Wartburg. Action starts at 10:30 a.m. in Hoover Fieldhouse in Waverly. 

Head coach Nate Rucker enters his 11th season as the head coach of Upper Iowa track and field in 2025-26. During his time with UIU, Rucker has coached three individual women's conference champions. 

MEET INFORMATION
Upper Iowa is one of five teams at the meet as it will compete against Grand View, Mount Mercy, North Iowa Area CC and Wartburg. The meet will not be scored. This marks the fifth season in a row UIU has competed at the event. 

Field events start at 10:30 a.m., while running events will start at noon. Field events start with the weight throw, shot put, long jump and triple jump. The first running event will be the women's 5000m. 

The Peacocks competed at last season's Chelsey Henkenius Invitational, highlighted by Haylie Hutchinson placing first in the triple jump and in the 200m. The Peacocks also had three runners place in the top five in the 400m with Jillian Dodds, Eryn Sabelka and Jasheana Tracy. 

MEET THE PEACOCKS: RETURNERS
Hutchinson returns for the Peacocks after totaling 43 top-10 finishes with 19 first-place finishes last season while competing in eight different events. She also broke the indoor school record in the triple jump with a mark of 10.97m (35' 11.89"). The junior finished the 2024-25 season placing seventh at the GLVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 100m hurdles. 

"Haylie's been a big part of what we've done the last couple of years," Rucker said. "I expect a good season out of her, hopefully a couple more school records and hopefully we can get her on the podium at conference. She's a big key contributor for what we do throughout the year, and I'm expecting good things from her."

The Peacocks return all four members from their 4x100m and 4x400m teams that placed seventh and 10th, respectively, at the GLVC Outdoor Championships. Dodds, Maile Kehano, Carolina Regalado and Hutchinson return for the 4x100m. Dodds, Tracy, Sabelka and Hutchinson were all on the 4x400m team. 

Dodds starts her senior season in 2025-26 after totaling 20 top-10 finishes combined between the 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m last season. 

"She's done a lot of good things for us and been a part of some good relay teams," Rucker said. "Jill's a great team leader. She's gotten stronger this fall and looks quicker. We're expecting some big things in her last season in a Peacock uniform."

Regalado is also back for her senior season. The McAllen, Texas native posted career-best times last season in the 60m and 100m while totaling 19 top-10 finishes. This season, she will compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and potentially the 4x200m. 

"She's brought good leadership and has a good rapport with the girls on the team," Rucker said. "I'm looking forward to her continuing that and hopefully finishing out strong and being that upperclassmen presence that we need."

Another member of that 4x400m team is Sabelka, who competed in the 200m, 300m, 400m and 4x400m last season. The senior posted a career-best time of 1:03.38 in the 400m at the Loras Midweek last April.

"She's another great team leader who steps up and takes care of business when she has to," Rucker said. "She's been a big part of getting us points at conference over the last four years."

For throwers, the Peacocks return junior Dereka Henderson, junior Rio Johnson and sophomore Shelby Rank. 

MEET THE PEACOCKS: NEWCOMERS
One newcomer who could find herself in the mix is freshman Aaliyah Comadore from McKinney, Texas. She could potentially give the team another option in the relays if needed. 

On the distance side, Southern New Hampshire transfer Katie Kraft joins the squad. The junior competed for the UIU cross country team this fall and picked up a 10th-place finish at the Sauk Valley Skyhawk Invitational. Her season was cut short due to injury. 

"She finished the cross-country season on a down note as she got an injury there at the end," Rucker said. "She's been working hard to come back from that. We're potentially looking at the steeplechase as an event for her as well."

The Peacocks also added freshmen Niaya Pickett (jumps), Cheyanna Thompson-Williams (Mid-Distance), Gracee Tompkins (throws) and Lisbeth Trinidad-Valerio (Distance) to the roster.

GLVC POLL
The Peacocks were picked 13th in the GLVC preseason poll, receiving 33 points. Lewis (Ill.) (168 points) was picked first in the poll with 12 first-place votes after winning its sixth consecutive GLVC Championship last season.

Lincoln (Mo.) came in second with 149 points and two first-place votes. Indianapolis totaled 141 points in third, Southwest Baptist (Mo.) totaled 137 points in fourth and Maryville (Mo.) totaled 115 points in fifth. 

Full Poll

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Upper Iowa has five indoor meets scheduled in Iowa before the GLVC Indoor Championships in Indianapolis on Feb. 28-March 1. The Peacocks have four outdoor invites with two in Iowa, one in Canton, Missouri and one in Winona, Minnesota. This season's GLVC Outdoor Championships are in Bolivar, Missouri, from May 1-2. 

"It's a typical schedule for us, keeping it close and with good competition," Rucker said. "We're always trying to get ready for conference, and our schedule is focused on getting everybody geared up and ready to go when we head to Indianapolis for the GLVC Championships."