STERLING, Ill.--The North Dakota State men’s track and field team claimed the 2008 Summit League indoor track and field championship in its first ever appearance in the league indoor meet Saturday, March 1. The Bison built a lead during day one on Friday and cruised from there to post a total of 215 points, well ahead of second place Oral Roberts at 177. Host Western Illinois finished third with 68.5.

It was the first competition in The Summit League indoor meet for NDSU as it spent the past three seasons in the Division I independent outdoor championships and claimed team titles each season. The Bison also won 17 North Central Conference indoor titles at the Division II level.

The Bison picked up individual championships from three different athletes to help their cause Saturday. The trio of wins comes at the heels of Matt Bishoff winning the pole vault and the distance medley relay team winning on Friday for NDSU.

Freshman Jeramy Geditz reached a career best in the high jump by clearing 6-10 1/4 to win the event. That height places Geditz in a tie for fifth on NDSU’s all-time indoor list.

Competing in his one and only Summit League indoor meet, senior Greg Liebl followed up his second place finish in the 3,000m run Friday to win the 5,000m Saturday in a time of 14:48.25. Teammate James Schanandore placed second in 14:49.49.

Also competing in his only Summit League indoor meet, senior Chad Bergan held off the field to win the mile run in a time of 4:15.02. Oral Roberts’s Jonah Lagat placed second in 4:15.85 and NDSU’s Ross Schilling was third in 4:16.20.

Also placing in the top three Saturday for NDSU was: Ted Rud placed third in the heptathlon (4,835); Bishoff finished third in the high jump (6-8 1/4); RJ Gross placed second in the shot put (49-10 1/2); Brad Hartsoch placed second in the triple jump (45-10); Scott Nei placed third in the triple jump (45-4 1/4); 4x400m relay placed second (3:21.30); Schilling also placed second in the 800m run (1:54.46); Jayce Miller placed second in the 400m dash (49.52); Ben Hendricks placed third in the 60m dash (7.04).

NDSU will send competitors to the Iowa State Classic March 8 in Ames for its final indoor meet. The Summit League outdoor championships are scheduled for May 15-17 in Macomb, Ill.