Bison Women Ready for Thundering Herd Classic

The North Dakota State women's track & field team will host the Thundering Herd Classic on Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2 in its return to the brand new Shelly Ellig Indoor Track & Field Facility.

The pentathlon is set to kick off at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, and the women's weight throw begins at 3:30 p.m. Running events open at noon on Saturday with the women's 5,000m.

North Dakota State will be joined in competition by South Dakota State, North Dakota and the University of Mary.

The Bison are the 13th-ranked team in the Midwest in the early USTFCCCA regional rankings. Track & Field News has North Dakota State ranked 18th in its latest collegiate dual meet rankings.

400m Dominance

North Dakota State currently owns six of the seven fastest 400m times in The Summit League this season. Junior Ashley Tingelstad leads the league at 56.08, and sophomore and defending Summit League champion Paige Stratioti is second at 56.68. Brittany Page, Antoinette Goodman, Melissa Kitching and Ashley Heinze are currently ranked third, fourth, sixth and seventh in the conference, respectively.

800m Leaders

Senior Faith Kruchowski, sophomore Paige Stratioti and freshman Erin Teschuk are ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the 800m in The Summit League this season. Kruchowski also leads the conference in the mile.

Distance Trio

Heidi Peterson, Brecca Wahlund and Abbi Aspengren own the three fastest 3,000m times in The Summit League this season. Peterson and Wahlund rank third and fourth all-time at NDSU in the event.

Top 30

Deborah John's meet-record 60m hurdles time of 8.42 seconds at the Jack Johnson Classic on Jan. 19 has her at No. 30 on the national performance list this season.

Johnson No. 3 on NDSU All-Time List

Senior Katie Johnson moved to No. 3 all-time at NDSU in the shot put after a personal-best throw of 48-06.25 (14.79m) at the Bill Bergan Invitational on Jan. 26. That mark is the second-best in The Summit League this year and No. 74 in the nation.

South Dakota State Athletes to Watch
Tera Potts, Sr., Distance
       No. 2 in The Summit League in the mile ... personal-best mile time of 4:56.95.
Brooke Garner, Sr., Weight Throw
      No. 2 in The Summit League in the weight throw in 2013 ... defending conference champion.

North Dakota Athletes to Watch
Stephanie Clarke, Fr., Sprints
      Set the UND school record in the 400m on Jan. 26 at 56.87 seconds.
Savana Weller, Jr., Mid-Distance
      Recorded a personal-best time of 2:15.88 in the 800m to rank No. 8 in the Big Sky Conference this season.

University of Mary Athletes to Watch
Melissa Agnew, Sr., Distance
      Leads the Northern Sun Conference in the 800m (2:12.49) and mile (4:44.59).
Brittney McKinley, Fr., Sprints/Hurdles
      No. 1 in the Northern Sun Conference in the 60m (7.85) ... No. 3 in 60m hurdles (8.93).