In August of 2004, a freshman popped into Mike Thorson's office at the University of Mary.

She was wondering if she could walk on to Thorson's track and field team.

The young woman had dyed her hair orange not intending to flash the Marauder orange.

Thorson kind of wondered who this girl was with the orange hair. She was Destinee Keller of Beulah.

"I wanted to do golf," said Keller, who golfed at U-Mary for three years.

It's a good thing for Thorson that no other college was interested in recruiting Keller. It's a good thing for Keller that she decided to continue with her track and field career.

Keller, now a senior, was a big part of U-Mary's success last season. The jumper helped U-Mary win Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference indoor and outdoor titles.

The Marauders open up their indoor season today at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Keller won the triple jump and placed second in the long jump at the NSIC indoor meet. She won the long jump at the NSIC outdoor meet, but didn't compete in the triple jump. She was committed to a school project in Korea as part of her elementary education and early childhood majors.

"Initially, she was a surprise," Thorson said. "The last few years, she hasn't been a surprise. She has the strength and speed. She's become proficient technically and she's a good competitor."

Keller's best marks in the triple jump (39-1) and long jump (18-10) have come during the outdoor season.

She's close to surpassing Donnevette Martin's indoor and outdoor school-record marks in the triple jump. Martin's indoor record (39-9¾) was set in 1998 and her outdoor (39-3) was reached in 2002.

Keller will also be aiming for an NCAA Division II national triple jump qualifying mark of 40-0½. Provisional is 37-8¾.

Keller didn't even know if she would be around to try to etch her name into school history. She was considering leaving U-Mary after her first semester to attend beauty school.

"I didn't enjoy school my freshman year,"Keller said. "I took some hard chemistry class and I wanted to finish in three years. Beauty school seemed like something quick to jump into."

Keller wanted to try at least one meet before she made her final decision to leave U-Mary. That meet was at USD where the Marauders compete today.

"She goes there and does really well," Thorson said. "I said 'Geez, you better stick around.' If she would have done poorly, she never would have stuck around."

Keller could have graduated last season, but decided to stay in school.

While the Marauders graduated some key members from last year's team, they also return several significant athletes.

Returning for U-Mary is sprinter-hurdler Cassie Blazer, the NSIC indoor newcomer of the year and the NSIC outdoor athlete of the year.

Other significant returners are middle distance runner Hannah Moen, sprinter Kacie Sweep, sprinter Mishay Weber, jumper Ashley Grammens, middle distance runner Ivy Roe and sprinter-hurdler Betsy Bischoff.

"I think people were surprised by us last year," Thorson said. "I don't think they expected us to win (the NSIC meets). The Winonas, Waynes and Moorheads went out and recruited accordingly. It will be a challenge to repeat."

Thorson expects to see improvement on the men's side. Jesse Piper, a hurdler, will lead the men's squad. Piper is the lone All-American on the roster from U-Mary's NAIA years.

Also returning is sprinter Luke Schander and pole vaulter-sprinter Tony Wood.

Thrower Josh Obrigewitch will redshirt the indoor season, but will compete outdoor. Russ Neff, a middle-long distance runner, will compete in just outdoor.

"We have a lot of freshmen (on both squads),"Thorson said. "When you have a lot of freshmen, you have a lot of question marks."

Rosters

(Indoor and outdoor)

Women

Seniors:Kristen Frohlich, Monroe, Utah (distance). Destinee Keller, Beulah (jumps). Hannah Moen, Galesburg (middle distance). Melissa Ramirez, Torrington, Wyo. (throws). Ivy Roe, Kindred (middle distance).

Juniors:Eloise Espana, Bell Gardens, Calif. (distance). Michelle Huxtable, Riverton, Wyo. (middle distance-hurdles). Sonny Schulz, Watford City (javelin). Kacie Sweep, Bismarck (sprints).

Sophomores:Nicole Ackerman, Sheridan, Wyo. (pole vault). Betsy Bischoff, Lovell, Wyo. (sprints-hurdles). Cassie Blazer, Mandan (middle distance-hurdles). Brandee DeVine, Bonney Lake, Wash. (middle distance). Whitney Fridley, Dickinson (middle distance). Ashley Grammens, Lavina, Mont. (jumps). Brianna Perry, Great Falls, Mont. (hurdles). Renae Swift, Valley City, Calif. (middle distance). Mishay Weber, Beulah (sprints).

Freshmen:Chyna Bailey, Rigby, Idaho (pole vault). Jordyn Cook, Eagle Butte, S.D. (distance). Jenny Dinius, Langdon (pole vault-sprints). Miranda Fehilly, Sidney, Mont. (pole vault-hurdles). Christy Gabrielson, Flasher (javelin). Holly Hassler, Minot (throws). Jennifer Kelly, Valley City (jumps). Kristen Neumiller, Sykeston (distance). Alicia Olson, East Grand Forks, Minn. (throws). Alyson Piccolo, Stanwood, Wash. (distance). Josie Reiner, Bismarck (sprints). Kristen Stewart, Kingston, Jamaica (sprints). Aliesha Swaby, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (hurdles). Kayla Weisbeck, Aberdeen, S.D. (sprints). Cassandra Young, Lakeview, Minn. (throws). Markell Gallagher, Spanaway, Wash. (hurdles). Tara Cercle, Lewiston, Mont. (hurdles).

Men

Seniors:Kurt Rettig, Medina (distance). Devin Sabrosky, Killdeer (hurdles). Luke Schander, Bowdon (sprints). Tony Wood, McCall, Idaho (pole vault-sprints).

Juniors:Michael Flores, La Pueute, Calif. (distance). Brent Lindbery, Hopkins, Minn. (sprints). Josh Obrigewitch, Bismarck (throws). Jesse Piper, Osage, Wyo. (hurdles). Brian Schiller, Denison, Kansas (pole vault-multi).

Sophomores:Jake Alexander, Sterling, Colo. (pole vault). James Dinius, Langdon (sprints). Jordan Puhalla, Bismarck (sprints). Greg Schenavar, Thompson Falls, Mont. (pole vault/hurdles/ multi). Luke Shevela, Columbus, Mont. (hurdles-jumps).

Freshmen: Steve Antonich, Anaconda, Mont. (javelin). Garrett Cora, Duluth, Minn. (sprints). Chris Faller, Bismarck (sprints). Emory Hedegard, Glasgow, Mont. (pole valut-multi). Ben Jacobson, Bismarck (throws). Chris Jordan, Fargo (sprints). Peder Larrivee, Bismarck (triple jump-sprints). Bennett Mayo, Zillah, Wash. (distance). Mark McLaughlin, Las Vegas (distance). Scott Murphy, Dickinson (jumps). Matt Neff, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. (distance). Russ Neff, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada (distance). Lance Nemec, Denton, Mont. (high jump). Chris Ogle, Polson, Mont. (middle distance). Pat Paradis, Helena, Mont. (distance). Quincy Pierce, South Heart (distance). Nick Lopez-Prelle, Hot Springs, S.D. (middle distance). Andrew Walz, Bismarck (distance). Andrew Schmid, Bismarck (hurdles-jumps). Cody Schmidt, Mandan (middle distance). AJ Tuck, Bismarck (throws). Nick Werre, Underwood (hurdles). Andrew Wickenheiser, Groton, S.D. (sprints). Tyler Zacher, Bismarck (jumps).