ELMHURST, Ill. ? The North Dakota State women's track and field team was unanimously picked to win the Summit League outdoor title this spring in a vote of the league's eight head coach.  The Bison have won two straight outdoor league titles.

The Bison earned seven first-place votes (49 points), followed by Southern Utah who placed second (41 points) and received the remaining first place vote.  Oral Roberts and South Dakota State each received 35 points, tying them for third. Western Illinois claimed the fifth spot with 28 points. Oakland (19 points), IPFW (11 points) and UMKC (10 points) earned the sixth through eighth spots, respectively.

The North Dakota State women's team is led by 2009 Summit League Coach of the Year Ryun Godfrey. Championship MVP Whitney Carlson and Newcomer of the Championships Leslie Brost return to defend their league titles.  Carlson finished first in the 400-meter hurdles and the long jump and garnered a second place finish in the 100-meter hurdles and a third place finish in the 100-meter dash. Brost finished first in the pole vault.  Senior Heather Zander will aim for a second straight heptathlon title after setting a league record in 2009.

Summit League Preseason Poll

Rank    School, Points

   1.      North Dakota State, 49 (7 first place votes)

   2.      Southern Utah, 41 (1)

   3.      Oral Roberts, 35

           South Dakota State, 35

   5.      Western Illinois, 28

   6.      Oakland, 19

   7.      IPFW, 11

   8.      UMKC,10