FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State women's track and field team travels to California to compete in three meets over the weekend. Action begins with the Mt. SAC/Cal Invitational heptathlon April 14-15. The rest of the team will compete in the Mt. SAC Relays April 15-17. Some members of the team will also compete at the Bryan Clay Invitationa April 15-16 and others will compete at the Beach Invitational April 16-17.
Meet Schedule
Wed., April 14 - Thurs., April 15 Mt. SAC/Cal Invitational Heptathlon
Thurs., April 15 - Sat., April 17 Mt. SAC Relays
Thurs., April 15 - Fri., April 16 Bryan Clay Invitational
Fri., April 16 - Sat., April 17 Beach Invitational
Carlson named athlete of the week
Junior Whitney Carlson was named the Summit League Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week after winning the long jump, 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles at the Bison Open last weekend. Carlson won the long jump with a mark of 20 feet 10 1/2 inches. The mark leads the league and is ranked No. 9 in the country. The Buchanan, N.D. native also won the 100 meter hurdles in 14.11 and the 400 meter hurdles in a league-leading time of 1:01.20. This is her first weekly honor of the outdoor season.
Carlson wins three events at Bison Open
In the lone home outdoor meet of the year, junior Whitney Carlson won the long jump, 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles to lead the team at the Bison Open April 9-10. Her long jump mark of 20-10 1/2 is a season best and is ranked No. 9 in the country. Overall, the Bison won 11 events at the meet. Freshman Ashley Tingelstad was a double event winner, claiming the 100 and 200. Her time of 24.45 in the 200 is tied for fourth on the NDSU all-time performance charts.
Four Bison in national top 20
Redshirt freshman Toni Tollefson leads a group of four Bison that are nationally ranked in their respective events according to the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). Tollefson is ranked seventh in the high jump with a mark of 5-11 1/2. Junior Whitney Carlson is also in the top ten in the long jump, ranking ninth with a mark of 20-10 1/2. Senior Heather Zander has the No. 12 heptathlon score with 5,134 points and sophomore Leslie Brost is tied for 18th in the pole vault with a mark of 13-7 3/4.
NDSU leads eight events in Summit League
The Bison lead eight events at this point in the outdoor season. Junior Whitney Carlson holds the top marks in both the 400 hurdles (1:01.20) and the long jump (20-10 1/2). Freshman Ashley Tingelstad leads the 200 with a time of 24.45 while junior Christine Bruins is No. 1 in the 800 in 2:08.35. Freshman Lauren Rice leads the 3,000 with a time of 10:04.19. Redshirt freshman Toni Tollefson holds top spot in the high jump with a mkar of 5-11 1/2 and sophomore Leslie Brost is tops in the pole vault after clearing 13-7 3/4. Senior Heather Zander leads the heptathlon with 5,134 points.
