The University of North Dakota women's track and field team is sprinting toward a future that head coach Jim Vahrenkamp believes will end in Summit League Outdoor Championship gold. While he admits the title might not come this season—or even the next—the program's upward momentum makes it feel less like a question of if and more like a matter of when.

"Because of the support and because of the continuity on the staff and the kids that we have, we're going to win at some point," Vahrenkamp said. "If we win now, great. That's evidence of the work that's been put in. If it takes until next year, that's fine, or if it takes one year after that. We're no longer in a place where we just go to conference."

The Fighting Hawks finished third at last year's meet, but they're charging into this week's championships—held in Fargo from Thursday to Saturday—with serious momentum. North Dakota State, the preseason favorites and reigning champions, won't make it easy. Yet based on the Hawks' and Bison's best individual performances this season, the race for the crown looks tighter than ever.

"As a coaching staff, that's all you want," Vahrenkamp added. "I want to go to something that's undecided, where everybody can be excited about it. Cheer for each other, feel like everything they do matters."

The UND women have already made a statement this outdoor season by shattering multiple program records. Jadyn Keeler—an All-American in both cross country and track and field—has rewritten the record books in the 1,500-meter, 5,000-meter, and 10,000-meter runs. Her dominance was on full display at the Hawks' annual Night of Champions event last week.

But Keeler isn't the only story. The depth of this roster is turning heads, from returning contributors to breakout stars who have quietly elevated the team's ceiling.

"They've done a great job of trusting the process," Vahrenkamp said. "Joining the group and just being patient. If you look at where Jadyn Keeler was when she came in, she wasn't relevant. Now she's one of the top 25 girls in multiple events in the NCAA, and she's going to sign a pro contract with Adidas when she gets done here. That's the same for a bunch of the other ones, too. If you look at the depth of the distance group, they're good top to bottom."

Sophomore walk-on Anya Williams is a perfect example of that growth. Coming out of high school, her personal bests were 5-1 in the high jump and 18-0 in the long jump. This season, she cleared 5-9.25 in the high jump, 18-8.5 in the long jump, and an impressive 40-11.5 in the triple jump—marks that set school records in both the triple jump and high jump.

"The growth of all the groups is what has made the difference," Vahrenkamp said. And as the Hawks head into championship season, that growth has them believing a title is no longer a dream—it's the next step.