Bison Women Target Fifth Straight Title, Host Summit League Track and Field Championships

FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State women's track and field team will play host to the 2012 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 10-12 at the Ellig Sports Complex. The Bison women have won four straight Summit League outdoor crowns. The Bison women will be looking to complete the title sweep this weekend as they also won the cross country title in the fall and the indoor championship this winter. Antoinette Goodman returns to defend her titles in the 100 and 200 meters. This will be the first time the Bison will host the Summit League Outdoor Championships after hosting the indoor championships in 2010 and 2011.

Meet Start Times
Thursday, May 10
11:00 a.m. - Decathlon (first five events)
11:00 a.m. - Field events
11:30 a.m. - Heptathlon (first four events)
7:00 p.m. - Running events

Friday, May 11
11:00 a.m. - Decathlon (final five events)
12:00 p.m. - Heptathlon (final three events)
3:00 p.m. - Field events
4:30 p.m. - Running events

Saturday, May 12
10:00 a.m. - Field events
12:20 p.m. - Running events

Live coverage
Live statistics of The Summit League Championships will be available on GoBison.com free of charge. There will also be live video of Saturday's finals beginning at 12:20 p.m. The live video will be available by subscription to NDSU All Access.

Tickets
Single day adult tickets are $5, while tickets for students and children are $3 per day. Fans can enter the track complex at the southeast, southwest and northwest entrances. Parking will be available in the lot immediately to the south of the track.

2011 Review
NDSU ran away with the 2011 Summit League outdoor title, amassing 263 points to second place Southern Utah's 163. The Bison won 11 event titles, including four by track MVP and field MVP Whitney Carlson. Carlson won the 100 hurdles, the 400 hurdles, the long jump and the heptathlon. Antoinette Goodman claimed the 100 and 200 meters, while Christine Schmaltz was a double winner as well, winning the 800 and 1500 meters. Leslie Brost won the pole vault and both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays were victorious as well. Along with Carlson's honors, Katie Dockter was named Newcomer of the Championships and Ryun Godfrey took home Coach of the Year honors.

NDSU women No. 13 in Midwest
In the latest USTFCCCA regional rankings released May 8, the NDSU women's track and field team is ranked No. 13 in the Midwest region. Kansas currently holds down the top spot in the region. NDSU is joined in the regional rankings by Summit League team Southern Utah, which is No. 15 in the Mountain region.

Bison women ranked nationally
The NDSU women have seven individuals and one relay ranked by TFRRS. In the steeplechase, Maddie McClellan is ranked No. 51 with a time of 10:24.87 and Amy Jo Thorne is No. 64 in 10:28.48. The Bison also have two athletes ranked in the 800 as Brittany Schanandore is No. 58 in 2:07.17 and Ashlynn Simon is No. 94 with a time of 2:08.23. Paige Stratioti is tied for 86th in the 400 meters in 54.07 seconds. The record-setting 4x400 relay is No. 53 in 3:38.09. In the high jump, Toni Tollefson is tied for 63rd after clearing 5-8 3/4. Emily Lesser is No. 92 in the hammer with a mark of 184-1.

NDSU defeats North Dakota, South Dakota State in dual
The Bison women defeated North Dakota, 83-61, and South Dakota State, 82-52, Friday, May 4 at the Ellig Sports Complex. Five members of the team cracked the all-time top 10 as well. Emily Lesser's discus mark of 153-1 is second in school history and her shot put mark of 46-4 is 10th. Katie Johnson's personal best throw in the shot put is ninth all-time. Caitlin Mack cleared 12-5 1/2 in the pole vault and is now tied for fourth on the all-time performance charts. Amy Jo Thorne broke into the top 10 in the 1,500 meters in 4:31.52, which ranks sixth in school history.