FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State women's track and field team will open the outdoor season by competing in the Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.  The Bison won their third straight Summit League indoor title and fifth league title overall at the beginning of the month.  The Baldy Castillo Invitational begins Friday, March 19 at 1 p.m. Pacific Time with the women's hammer throw.  The rest of the field events start at 10 a.m. PT on Saturday, March 20.  The running events will begin at 5:45 p.m. PT.  The Bison will compete against Arizona State, Colorado Mines, Grand Canyon, Manhattan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Northern Arizona, South Dakota, Utah State and Western State.

Brost finishes 17th at NCAA Championships

Sophomore Leslie Brost finished 17th in the pole vault at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships.  Brost cleared a height of 13-5 ¼ at the championships.  She cleared her first attempt at 13-1 ½.  At the next height of 13-5 ¼, she cleared the bar on her second attempt.  She missed all three attempts at 13-9 ¼.  Indiana State's Kylie Hutson won her second straight title with a mark of 14-9.

Bison claim third straight Summit League indoor title

NDSU won seven titles en route to a third consecutive Summit League Indoor Championship.  Junior Whitney Carlson led the way, winning the 60 meter hurdles, 200 meters and long jump.  Sophomore Kristen Killoran claimed the triple jump title with a mark of 40-4.  Junior Christine Bruins won the 800 meters in 2:14.65, while senior Heather Zander won the pentathlon with a league record 3,710 points. Redshirt freshman Toni Tollefson took first in the high jump, clearing 5-8.  The Bison amassed 198.5 points, beating second place Oral Roberts by 67.5 points.

Carlson, Godfrey claim league awards

Junior Whitney Carlson was voted the Championship Track MVP after tallying 38 points in NDSU's win.  Carlson won three events and set two Summit League records in the process.  After setting a league record of 8.55 in the 60 hurdles prelims, she won the event in 8.66.  She also smashed her own school record in the long jump with a mark of 20-6 1/2, setting a second league record.  The Buchanan, N.D. native won the 200 in 25.06 and finished second in the pentathlon.  Head coach Ryun Godfrey earned his third consecutive indoor coach of the year award as voted on by the leagues coaches.

Nine Bison women earn all-league honors

Nine North Dakota State women's track and field athletes have been named to the All-Summit League team.  The top three athletes in each event earn all-league honors.  The all-league teams were determined prior to the league championships.

All-Summit League Honorees

Whitney Carlson (200, 60H, LJ, Pent., 4x400)

Christine Bruins (800)

Leslie Brost (PV)

Toni Tollefson (HJ)

Deborah John (60, 4x400)

Heather Zander (60H, Pent.)

Kristen Killoran (LJ, TJ)

Devon Wentz (4x400)

Brittany Page (4x400)