Ali Weimer has her best track and field year yet – The Minnesota Daily
Throughout the 2024-25 school year, Ali Weimer participated in five different championship meets, but the beginning of summer may have been the most unforgettable. The distance runner graduated with high distinction, earning her Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and then broke her school record a month later at the NCAA Championships. An impressive running career […]
Throughout the 2024-25 school year, Ali Weimer participated in five different championship meets, but the beginning of summer may have been the most unforgettable.
The distance runner graduated with high distinction, earning her Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and then broke her school record a month later at the NCAA Championships.
An impressive running career is never what Weimer expected. She said she never ran track or cross country until seventh grade.
She played soccer and hockey, but found a natural enjoyment in running.
“I don’t know how in the world I thought running far was gonna be revolutionary or life changing,” Weimer said. “When they made us run at practice, everyone was like, I’m dreading it. And I’m like, this is awesome.”
Weimer excelled in cross country throughout high school. The Minnesota native went to Saint Michael-Albertville High School in Saint Michael, only 30 minutes from the Twin Cities.
In 2021, Weimer won the Minnesota State Championship for cross country, as well as the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year for her athletic ability, as well as academic merit and volunteer work.
Weimer’s high school coach, Matt Venaas, at the time, told Gatorade that Weimer’s strategic understanding of running was impressive.
“An incredible runner and positive leader for our team,” Venaas said. “She does an excellent job understanding how she can run her best race that day.”
When Weimer started running with the Gophers, the leadership on the track and cross country teams consisted of many graduate students who helped guide her and grow her skill.
“I think that the older girls have done a great job of just kind of raising me up and raising the girls in my grade and raising the younger generations,” Weimer said.
In 2022, she was the unanimous Big Ten Cross Country Freshman of the Year, the first Gophers runner to achieve the title since 2000.
Though Weimer has competed in cross country since she joined the Gophers, her track and field career did not start officially until 2024. She spent the 2023 season as a redshirt.
Weimer said cross country is her “bread and butter,” and it was evident in her performances throughout the season, consistently finishing first among her teammates.
After missing the NCAA National Championship for cross country in 2023, the Gophers finished 18th this year. Weimer mentioned that their successful cross-country season gave her confidence going into the track and field season.
“I want to be scoring at the Big Ten meet,” Weimer said. “I want to do it for the team, if records come with that or best times come with that, then that is great.”
Weimer said this after coming up short at the Big Ten Indoor Championships. At the next meet she competed in, she broke the school record for the 10,000 meter run.
It was consistent growth from there, breaking her personal best in the 5k, placing fourth at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and then qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
At the NCAA Championships, she broke her own 10k school record once again.
Teammate graduate student Emma Atkinson said in October that Weimer was going to be successful and was sure she would become an All-American this year.
After the NCAA Championships, Weimer earned second-team All-American. Her 15th place finish in the 10k was the second-highest in Gophers’ history.
With more years of eligibility, Weimer’s career with the Gophers is not over yet, as she will be back next season as a graduate student.
The ‘Final Draft’ Cast: Your Guide to the Japanese Athletes
In the past few years, Netflix has built out its slate of Japanese TV shows, from the death-game thriller Alice in Borderland to its groundbreaking gay dating show The Boyfriend. Now, Netflix Japan is courting Physical: 100 fans with Final Draft, the streaming giant’s first-ever Japanese survival show. The new physical competition show recruits 25 […]
In the past few years, Netflix has built out its slate of Japanese TV shows, from the death-game thriller Alice in Borderland to its groundbreaking gay dating show The Boyfriend. Now, Netflix Japan is courting Physical: 100 fans with Final Draft, the streaming giant’s first-ever Japanese survival show.
The new physical competition show recruits 25 former athletes, who walked away from their careers and are looking for another chance at glory and security. Over several days, the contestants compete in strength, agility, perseverance, and stamina games that range from climbing an icy mountain to the ultimate monkey bars challenge. The last one left standing will walk away with a grand prize of 30 million yen (about $204,000) to support their families and the next stage of their careers.
(Image credit: Netflix)
For the must-watch reality series, producers gathered a range of athletes, including sports legends wanting to prove they still have it, underdogs hoping to amplify their lesser-known sports, and players whose careers were cut short. Below, read on to meet the athletic phenoms in the cast of Final Draft.
A24 has released the first trailer for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie’s 1950s-set sports dramedy starring Timothée Chalamet as a table tennis player chasing respect and recognition. The film marks Safdie’s first directorial effort since co-helming Uncut Gems with his brother Benny, and his first solo feature in more than a decade. ‘The Smashing Machine’ trailer: […]
A24 has released the first trailer for Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie’s 1950s-set sports dramedy starring Timothée Chalamet as a table tennis player chasing respect and recognition. The film marks Safdie’s first directorial effort since co-helming Uncut Gems with his brother Benny, and his first solo feature in more than a decade.
Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a gifted but underestimated ping pong player whose ambitions take him on a turbulent journey toward greatness. Along the way, he begins an affair with a glamorous movie star, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, while navigating the personal and professional challenges of life on the road. The ensemble cast includes Fran Drescher as Marty’s mother, rapper Tyler, the Creator, magician Penn Jillette, Odessa A’zion, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, and filmmaker Abel Ferrara.
Co-written by Safdie and longtime collaborator Ronald Bronstein, Marty Supreme is a fictionalised retelling inspired by the life of Marty Reisman, a five-time World Table Tennis Championships bronze medalist who became a showman for the sport.
Chalamet reportedly underwent extensive training to capture the physicality and technique of a professional player. Cinematographer Darius Khondji noted earlier this year that the actor “wanted to be like a real [professional] ping pong player when he started shooting.”
The film is produced by Safdie, Bronstein, Eli Bush, Anthony Katagas, Chalamet, and A24.
Chalamet, who has previously praised the Safdie brothers’ “raw and untethered” approach to filmmaking, now takes center stage in one of the year’s most anticipated releases. Marty Supreme is set to open in theaters on December 25, positioning itself as both a holiday release and a potential awards contender.
2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo – News
Event Info Here’s how to watch the 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast on FloSwimming. The 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast starts on Sep 14, 2025. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple […]
Here’s how to watch the 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast on FloSwimming. The 2025 Harvard vs Claremont M-S – Men’s – Water Polo broadcast starts on Sep 14, 2025. Stream or cast from your desktop, mobile or TV. Now available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Apple TV. Don’t forget to download the FloSports app on iOS or Android! If you can’t watch live, catch up with the replays! Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloSwimming subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
The Big West Women’s Soccer Notebook: Opening Whistle Awaits Teams This Week
What 2 Watch 4
– The wait is over…our 2025 Big West women’s soccer season is here! All 11 squads are ready to take the pitch during an action-packed opening week.
2024 regular-season champion and preseason favorite Hawai’i wastes no time diving into a marquee matchup, heading to Southern California to battle rival Long […]
– The wait is over…our 2025 Big West women’s soccer season is here! All 11 squads are ready to take the pitch during an action-packed opening week.
2024 regular-season champion and preseason favorite Hawai’i wastes no time diving into a marquee matchup, heading to Southern California to battle rival Long Beach State in a non-conference contest on opening day. The Rainbow Wahine took the last meeting 1-0, with Tatum Porter’s late strike sealing the win in last year’s regular-season finale. From there, UH heads to face (RV) Pepperdine, while the Beach will test themselves against No. 19 Texas at George Allen Field.
The ranked showdowns continue when UC San Diego and Cal State Fullerton will each welcome (RV) California on Aug. 14 and Aug. 17, setting the stage for early-season statements. A new-look Cal Poly program takes on (RV) BYU on Monday, Aug. 18, for a primetime home opener at Mustang Memorial Field.
Defending conference champion UC Santa Barbara kicks off its season at Harder Stadium against LMU.
– A total of 15 matches are set to air live on ESPN+ this week. Please check the listings online below watch your favorite Big West squad in action!
2025 Big West Women’s Soccer Schedule
New Faces of The Big West
– The Big West welcomes a new crop of leaders around the conference during the 2025-26 season. A trio of programs has welcomed new head coaches with Cal State Bakersfield, UC Davis, and UC Riverside, while Cal Poly kept its hire within the league.
The Roadrunners welcome Whitney Pitalo, who most recently served as the First Assistant Coach at Boston College, aiding the Eagles to a 12-5-2 overall record and the team’s best finish in the American Coastal Conference (ACC) since 2018. CSUB earned its first pair of victories in the Big West Championship last season, before being narrowly edged in the Final in penalty kicks.
Kat Mertz joins the Aggies after orchestrating a program-changing run as head coach at NCAA Division II MSU Denver, posting a 39-20-19 overall record and a 28-12-8 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) action over four seasons. UCD capped off 2024 with the best regular season record in the league at 13-5-2 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Championship behind a 6-2-2 performance in conference play.
Mike Dibbini will now be the new manager of the Highlander. Dibbini brings nearly two decades of collegiate head coaching experience to UC Riverside, boasting a career record of 303-176-52 (.619). Most recently, he built Kansas State University’s women’s soccer program from the ground up, leading the Wildcats since their 2016 debut and steering them to multiple milestones, including a Big 12 Championship appearance in 2022.
Bernardo Silva will now take the reins at Cal Poly, succeeding Alex Crozier, who led the Mustangs since the program’s inception in 1991. After leading CSUB for two seasons, he set multiple Big West program records and guided the Roadrunners to their best conference finish in history. A former Mustang assistant (2013-16), Silva compiled an 11-20-9 overall record and 6-8-6 Big West mark while coaching the ‘Runners.
2025 USCA Division I Players to Watch
– A total of four standout Big West student athletes have been chosen to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch list.
The listings are compiled and released by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start date for the regular season later this month. Honorees include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2024 who are scheduled to return for the 2025 season.
Isabella Cruz
Senior
Midfielder
Cal State Fullerton
Nalani Damacion
Sophomore
Midfielder
Hawai’i
Genavieve Fontes
R-Senior
Midfielder
UC Davis
Kennedy Justin
Sophomore
Goalkeeper
Hawai’i
Superwoman
– Isabella Cruz of Cal State Fullerton has been selected as one of The Big West’s pair of 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year conference nominees.
Each year, NCAA member schools nominate graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves on and off the field of play. From there, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection process narrows the pool to the Top 30 honorees—10 from each division—before selecting three finalists from each division. The award recipient is chosen by the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and honored at the NCAA Convention.
A second-generation Latina and standout student-athlete, Cruz has exemplified excellence both on and off the field. She completed her bachelor’s degree in communications in just 2.5 years, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in professional communications while competing in her final season of NCAA eligibility. As a team captain for the CSUF women’s soccer program, she has led with integrity, building a team culture centered on inclusivity, support, and growth.
Beyond athletics, she serves as her team’s representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), advocating for the student-athlete experience across campus. Her commitment to service is evident through her volunteer work with Football for Her, campus engagement efforts like promoting voter participation, and community-driven initiatives such as food drives and holiday gift collections.
In addition to her academic and service contributions, Cruz has gained hands-on experience in sports marketing as an intern with Orange County Soccer Club, and currently serves as the social media manager for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), using digital storytelling to foster connection and purpose.
International Action
– Cal State Bakersfield senior Catalina Roggerone has once again been called up to the Argentina Women’s National Team, making the midfielder’s second appearance in 2025. The Mendoza, Argentina native helped the squad reach the semifinals and secure a podium finish, placing third overall in a major international tournament.
Preseason Prognostics
-Hawai’i has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2025 Big West women’s soccer title, as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches. Four teams received at least one first-place vote on the preseason poll.
The Rainbow Wahine, who finished 12-8-1 overall with an 8-1-1 record in conference play last season, earned 88 points and six first-place votes to claim the top spot after earning their first-ever Big West regular-season championship.
Defending tournament champion UC Santa Barbara (8-6-9, 4-2-4 BW) ranks second with 84 points and three first-place selections, followed closely by UC Irvine (6-7-6, 4-2-4 BW) with 81 points and one first-place nod. Long Beach State (6-9-3, 3-5-2 BW) collected 74 points and a first-place vote to land in fourth, while Cal State Fullerton sits just behind in fifth at 73 points.
Cal Poly (5-11-3, 3-6-1) finished sixth in the voting at 53 points, followed by UC San Diego (3-12-4, 1-6-3 BQ) in seventh with 42 points, and UC Davis’s (13-5-2, 6-2-2 BW) 37 points placed the Aggies in eighth. Cal State Bakersfield (8-10-5, 4-3-3 BW) and CSUN (5-11-3, 3-4-3 BW) are knotted at No. 9 with 27 points as UC Riverside (2-13-4, 0-6-4 BW) rounds out the 2025 preseason coaches’ poll.
Coaches also voted on an 11-member Preseason All-Big West Team featuring standout student-athletes from across the conference. Cal State Fullerton and Hawai’i led the way with both squads having a pair of representatives on the team.
The Big West unveiled its 11-member Preseason All-Conference Team, as voted on by league head coaches. The list features top returning talent from across the conference, with Cal State Fullerton and Hawai’i leading all programs with two selections each.
Representing the Titans are forward Isabella Cruz and defender Kaylin Raibon, who finished second and third in team scoring last season.
Preseason favorite Hawai’i places midfielder Nalani Damacion, the 2024 Big West Freshman of the Year, and forward Amber Gilbert on the squad. Last season, Damacion notched seven goals, including five game-winners, while Gilbert was a consistent threat up top in 17 starts.
The preseason list also includes Cal State Bakersfield’s standout goalkeeper Kamy Anaya, who helped lead the Roadrunners to their first Big West Final in program history with a .770 save percentage. Long Beach State forward Cherrie Cox returns to the pitch after claiming the 2023 Big West Offensive Player of the Year accolade behind a 13-goal campaign.
UC Davis forward Genavieve Fontes, the league’s top scorer last season with 11 goals, earns a spot alongside UC Santa Barbara’s forward Devin Greer, who tallied 10 goals en route to 2024 Freshman of the Year honors.
Jessie Halladay led the Mustangs as a forward with 11 points in 2024, while Mihaela Perez of UC Irvine helped anchor a defense that recorded five clean sheets in 19 starts. Midfielder Yoshi Rubalcava rounds out the 2025 preseason team as CSUN’s representative after posting career-highs in both goals (5) and points (12) a year ago.
The 2025 Big West Women’s Soccer Championship is set to begin on Sunday, Nov. 2, with first-round matches hosted by the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, who will face the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively. From there, our semifinals and the title match will take place at the home venue of the 2025 regular-season champion and No. 1 seed. Semifinal action is slated for Thursday, Nov. 6, with the Championship Final set for Sunday, Nov. 9. The winner will earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.
Action across The Big West kicks off this Thursday, Aug. 14, while league play commences Thursday, Sept. 18, with four matches on the docket, kicking off a seven-week slate. Each side will play five home matches and have three bye dates throughout the Thursday-Sunday rotation, which concludes on Oct. 30.
2024 Postseason Rewind
– No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara opened its postseason run with a 2-1 win over No. 6 seed Cal State Fullerton. Freshman standout Devin Greer led the way with a goal and an assist, including the game-winner in the 73rd minute.
In the later first-round match, No. 5 seed Cal State Bakersfield made history in their Big West Championship debut, upsetting three-time defending champion and No. 4 seed UC Irvine 1-0 behind Kamy Anaya’s eight-save shutout and Isis Salazar-Ortega’s 44th-minute strike.
The semifinals at Waipi’o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in O’ahu, brought more drama. UCSB edged No. 2 seed UC Davis 3-2 in double overtime thanks to Greer’s penalty kick to reach the title match for the first time since 2018, while CSUB stunned top-seeded and regular-season champion Hawai’i, 3-0, to reach their first-ever Big West Championship final in any sport, still without allowing a postseason goal.
In the Championship final, UCSB and CSUB battled to a stalemate before the Gauchos prevailed 8-7 in a penalty shootout to claim their third Big West title, all won via PKs. The victory sent UCSB to its 10th NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship appearance.
From The Big West to the Big Leagues
– In January 2022, Long Beach State forward Lena Silano was selected 34th overall by the Washington Spirit in the third round of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft.
Silano was the second straight player from the Beach to be drafted and is the fourth overall Big West student-athlete to hear their name called in the NWSL Draft. Former teammate, Kaitlin Fregulia, and 2x Big West Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2021) was selected 12th overall to the North Carolina Courage as the highest draft pick in Big West Women’s Soccer history.
Silano won the 2022 Big West Offensive Player of the Year Award and has been an All-Big West selection twice (2021, 2022). The forward was also a member of the 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team.
Two months later, another alum of the Big West would have an opportunity to play in the NWSL as UC Irvine alum Scarlett Camberos was signed by Angel City FC (LA), marking her return to Southern California after spending time at Club América Femenil. The former Anteater scored 13 goals and notched seven assists during her senior season.
Another monumental moment for the conference occurred during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while Quinley Quezada represented UC Riverside and the Big West on the biggest stage while playing for the Philippines. The squad suffered a 2-0 defeat versus Switzerland in the first group stage before winning its first-ever World Cup match against New Zealand, 1-0 on July 25, 2023. However, the Philippines fell in its final group match to Norway, 6-0.
The UNLV Rebels have Hired Brooke Koblitz as an Assistant Coach.
The UNLV Rebels Track and Field program has hired Brooke Koblitz as an assistant coach. She specializes more specifically in long-distance and cross-country. The team announced that she’d be joining the staff on Wednesday. Head coach Carmelita Jeter said she’s excited to have Koblitz on board in Las Vegas. “I’m very excited to add Brooke […]
The UNLV Rebels Track and Field program has hired Brooke Koblitz as an assistant coach. She specializes more specifically in long-distance and cross-country. The team announced that she’d be joining the staff on Wednesday. Head coach Carmelita Jeter said she’s excited to have Koblitz on board in Las Vegas.
“I’m very excited to add Brooke to our Rebel family,” said Carmelita. “Brooke has the knowledge, grit and grind from competing in the SEC as a collegiate student-athlete and understands what it takes to be the best. At her prior institution, she helped the program achieve goals with the same mindset we have here, Brick by Brick, along with building the ladies’ confidence not only for the sport, but for life. I’m very excited to see how her energy, passion, and competitiveness will inspire these ladies to reach their personal best and maintain a positive mindset.”
Welcome to the 702! Assistant Coach Brooke Koblitz officially joins the staff 🎰
— UNLV Track & Field/Cross Country (@unlvtfxc) August 13, 2025
Prior to joining the Rebels, Koblitz had spent the past three years as an assistant track and field cross country coach at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee. Before coaching at Trevecca Nazarene in 2022, she started up the program and coached at Nolensville High School in Georgia in 2016. She is a Georgia native from Alpharetta and also ran track herself for the Georgia Bulldogs. While with the Bulldogs, she ran in the 800m, 1500m, and mile while also competing in cross country. That includes competing in an SEC Championship as a senior.
At Centennial High School, she was a three-sport athlete and lettered in all three. The sports were track and field, cross country, and basketball. She was a state champion in the 1600m.
In addition to coaching, she has also worked as a track and field official through Vanderbilt University. She has been doing that since 2017. During her time as an official, she has officiated indoor events, including various Vanderbilt Indoor Invitationals, the SEC Indoor Championships, and the TSSAA State Indoor Championships.
The addition of Koblitz should bring experience to the program that she can share with the current Rebels cross country runners. This should be an exciting season for UNLV, who hope to compete at the highest level in 2025 – 2026 and win the Mountain West Conference. This team has shown potential and promise and hope to take that to the next level with the help of an impressive coaching staff and talented young athletes.
8 storylines to follow in the 2025 college volleyball season
The 2025 college volleyball season is right around the corner. Here are my top storylines for this season. 1. Can Penn State go back-to-back in its new era? Penn State ended last season back on top of college volleyball in a new era under Katie Schumacher-Cawley. We know the Nittany Lions had the biggest volleyball […]
The 2025 college volleyball season is right around the corner. Here are my top storylines for this season.
1. Can Penn State go back-to-back in its new era?
Penn State ended last season back on top of college volleyball in a new era under Katie Schumacher-Cawley. We know the Nittany Lions had the biggest volleyball dynasty with four national titles in a row from 2007 to 2010. Now they bring in one of the best players in the country and look to rebuild while staying on top.
2. Big expectations for Big Red
Nebraska heads into the season at the No. 1 spot, looking like the most dangerous lineup in the country. With a new head coach in Dani Busboom Kelly, can they live up to the hype? There are a lot of high hopes and expectations with one of the most talented lineups.
Multiple teams got an entirely new look in the transfer portal — the season is going to start fast and strong. It will be interesting to see how the rosters with players from all over the country gel with one another.
SEE MORE OFF-SEASON CHANGES: Transfer portal recap
4. Marquee matchups in the first few weeks
We have incredible nonconference tournaments this year for the first time. So many top-10 matchups, top-25 matchups right out of the gates. Many of the top-10 teams. Many of the top-10 teams will probably have early records that will look a lot different than years past.
OPEN SEASON: Check out the who, when and where kicking off the 2025 season
5. Restored and revamped rivalries
It feels like we have some new fun matchups to keep an eye on, or old rivalries that have an added flair. With the rise of Texas A&M after last year’s run, that Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry seems even more fun this year. How about Louisville vs. Kentucky — new stars on both teams. Then there’s Kentucky and Texas fighting for the top of the SEC. Or how about Penn State and Nebraska after the reverse sweep in the semifinals and as the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams. That one feels like it has some added value this season as well.
6. New portal additions projected to push UCLA toward the top
There is a lot of preseason talk about UCLA rebuilding from the portal. The Bruins have four national championships, but three were in the ’90s. This rebuild could be a push to bring UCLA back to the forefront of college volleyball.
We have some new coaching eras beginning in 2025. Multiple legendary head coaches stepped down after 2024: John Cook, Ray Bechard, Mary Wise and more. We will embark on the new eras of Dani Busboom Kelly at Nebraska, Matt Ulmer at Kansas and Dan Meske at Louisville to name a few. 2025 feels like the start of a new era.
8. Who’s the next big name?
And finally: Who will emerge as superstars this season? Last year graduated a lot of very big shoes to fill, and we have high profile youngsters and freshmen to look forward to seeing on the court this season. Last year we saw names like Izzy Starck, a freshman, go on to win the national title. Who will be big-time this year? We have highly touted recruits like Abby Vander Wal at Texas or players like Stella Swenson at Minnesota who didn’t play last year.
So many question marks for this season — and what I feel like is the one of the most highly anticipated college volleyball seasons yet. .
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