CARMEL, Ind. ? Junior Tyler Leverington finished eighth to lead the North Dakota State cross country team to a third place finish at the Summit League Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30.  It is NDSU's best-ever finish at the league championships.  The team's previous top finish was fourth in 2008.

Leverington and fellow junior Travis Fitzke both were named to the All-Summit League second team after placing eighth and 11th, respectively. Freshman Marty Joyce was named the Newcomer of the Championships as the highest-placing freshman in the race.

South Dakota State won the league title with 43 points and Oakland placed second with 58 points.  The Bison tallied 77 points in their third place finish.

Leverington covered the eight-kilometer course in 25:13.8, a pace of five minutes and five seconds per mile.  Fitzke came in 11^th in 25:19.8.  Redshirt freshman Alec Espeland placed 16^th after posting a time of 25:36.0. Junior Jake Henderson finished in 25:40.7 to place 18^th. 

Freshman Marty Joyce came in 24^th in 26:01.0 while junior Andy Fillmore was 35^th in 26:33.6.  Redshirt freshman Moses Heppner (27:15.7) and junior Andy Wendroth (27:21.5) placed 48^th and 52^nd, respectively, to round out the Bison contingent.

The Bison will next compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Ill. on Saturday, Nov. 13.

NDSU Individual Results

8. Tyler Leverington, 25:13.8

11. Travis Fitzke, 25:19.8

16. Alec Espeland, 25:36.0

18. Jake Henderson, 25:40.7

24. Marty Joyce, 26:01.0

35. Andy Fillmore, 26:33.6

48. Moses Heppner, 27:15.7

52. Andy Wendroth, 27:21.5

Team Results

1. South Dakota State, 43

2. Oakland, 58

3. North Dakota State, 77

4. IUPUI, 112

5. Southern Utah, 113

6. UMKC, 142

7. Western Illinois, 191

8. Oral Roberts, 225

9. IPFW, 260

10. Centenary, 299