NDSU Women Dominate Bison Classic in Ellig Facility Opener

FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State women's track & field team opened the brand new Shelly Ellig Indoor Track & Field Facility the same way it closed the Bison Sports Arena chapter of its history books - with a whole lot of winning.

The Bison recorded two wins in the double dual team scoring format, defeating Minnesota by a score of 81-65 and the University of Manitoba, 98-45.

NDSU claimed event titles in the 60m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 600m, mile, 4x400m relay and high jump. Bison junior Emily Lesser won both throwing events while competing unattached on Saturday.

Lesser and senior Katie Johnson each posted personal-best throws in the shot put to take first and second place, respectively. Lesser's mark of 48-10.75 (14.90m) ranks No. 2 all-time at NDSU, and Johnson's throw of 47-11.75 (14.62m) is No. 4 on the Bison all-time list. Lesser would be ranked No. 33 in the nation in the shot put had she not been competing unattached.

Lesser's winning weight throw mark was 56-02.50 (17.13m).

On a national scale, some of the most impressive performances of the meet came in the 800m, where NDSU senior Faith Kruchowski (2:13.14) and sophomore Paige Stratioti (2:13.66) placed second and third, respectively. With their performances coming on a 200-meter flat track, the converted times for Kruchowski and Stratioti rank No. 12 and No. 13 in the nation this season.

Junior Antoinette Goodman turned in another impressive time, running 24.80 seconds to win the 200m. Once converted for track size, Goodman's time of 24.42 is the 32nd-fastest in the NCAA this year.

Goodman was second in the long jump with a near-personal best jump of 19-00.00 (5.79m).

Senior Deborah John won the 60m hurdles in 8.61 seconds - a performance that is tied for the 44th-fastest in the nation this season.

Redshirt freshman Brecca Wahlund, fresh off her breakout cross country season, posted a time of 5:04.31 in the mile for first place.

Bison freshman Lexy Boschee won the high jump for the second time in just her second collegiate meet, clearing 5-08.00 (1.73m).

Ashley Tingelstad took the 400m title with a time of 57.57, and Ashlynn Simon won the 600m in 1:34.99.

Heidi Peterson and Abbi Aspengren were third and fourth in the 3,000m. Peterson finished in 10:01.36 and Aspengren crossed the line in 10:04.30.

North Dakota State will travel to the University of Minnesota for the Jack Johnson Classic on Jan. 18-19.