FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State women's track and field team hosts the 2010 Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday, Feb. 28 and Monday, March 1.  Action begins at 9:30 a.m. Sunday with the women's pentathlon 60 meter hurdles.  Women's action continues Monday at 11 a.m. with the shot put.  The Bison have won two straight indoor league titles and will be aiming for number three this weekend.

Previewing the 2010 League Championships

The Bison return two individual champions in junior Whitney Carlson and Kristen Killoran as well as championship relay members junior Devon Wentz and sophomore Brittany Page.  Carlson was the MVP of the championships last season after winning the 60 meter hurdles and the pentathlon, while Killoran is the defending champion in the triple jump.  NDSU leads the league in eight events going into the championships.  Carlson holds the top spot in four events - the 200 meters (24.46), the 60 meter hurdles (8.57), the long jump (20-4 1/2), and the pentathlon (3,810).  Freshman Deborah John leads a tight field in the 60 meters with a time of 7.65 and junior Christine Bruins is No. 1 in the 800 meters with a time of 2:08.97.  Redshirt freshman Toni Tollefson is tops in the high jump with a mark of 5-8 3/4, while sophomore Leslie Brost leads the pole vault with a mark of 13-10. Oral Roberts and Southern Utah lead three events each.

Brost sets new school record, named league athlete of the week

Sophomore Leslie Brost has been named the Summit League Athlete of the Week after setting a new school record in the pole vault at the Parents Day Open Saturday, Feb. 20.  The Watertown, S.D. native also improved her NCAA provisional mark.  Brost won the pole vault Saturday, clearing 13 feet 10 inches and breaking her own 2009 record of 13-9 1/4. She currently leads the Summit League and is ranked No. 13 in the country in the pole vault.

Carlson, Bruins reach NCAA provisional marks at Bison Open

Junior Whitney Carlson set two school records at the Bison Open Feb. 12-13.  She first set a new mark of 3,810 points in the pentathlon, breaking teammate Heather Zander's 2009 record by 12 points.  She went on to leap 20-4 1/2 in the long jump, breaking Amanda Thieschafer's 2003 record by four and a half inches.  Both marks reach NCAA provisional standards.  Junior Christine Bruins also reached an NCAA provisional time in the 800 meters, coming in first with a season-best time of 2:08.97.

Carlson, Brost ranked in top 25 nationally

Junior Whitney Carlson and sophomore Leslie Brost are both ranked nationally in their respective events.  Carlson is ranked No. 19 in the pentathlon.  She reached a school record score of 3,810 points at the Bison Open two weeks ago.  Oregon's Brianne Theisen leads the event with 4,198 points.  Carlson is also tied for 21st in the long jump with a mark of 20-4 1/2.  Blessing Okagbare of UTEP leads the long jump with a leap of 21-11 3/4.  Sophomore Leslie Brost is ranked No. 13 in the pole vault with a school record mark of 13-10.  Indiana State's Kylie Hutson holds the top spot with a mark of 14-6.