ELMHURST, Ill. - The North Dakota State women's track and field team was chosen to win the Summit League in a preseason poll of the league's eight head coaches.  The Bison are two-time defending indoor champions.

NDSU received all seven possible first place votes for 49 points in the poll.  South Dakota State was second with 41 points.  Southern Utah came in third with 40 points.

The Bison are led by 2009 Indoor Coach of the Year Ryun Godfrey and league championship MVP junior Whitney Carlson.  Sophomore Kristen Killoran also returns after winning the triple jump at last year's championships.  Pentathlon school record holder senior Heather Zander and pole vault record holder sophomore Leslie Brost are also part of a strong returning group of athletes.

Last season, Brost and Laura Hermanson became the first NDSU women's track and field athletes to compete at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships.  Hermanson became the first Division I All-American after placing seventh in the 800 meters.

Summit League Women's Indoor Preseason Poll

1.     North Dakota State (7), 49

2.     South Dakota State, 41

3.     Southern Utah (1), 40

4.     Oral Roberts, 30

5.     Western Illinois, 27

6.     Oakland, 15

7.     IPFW, 14

8.     UMKC, 10