NEW ORLEANS, La. ? The North Dakota State men's track and field team is No. 15 in the Midwest Region in the first United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings announced Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Illinois holds the top spot in the region, followed by fellow Big Ten school Iowa. Minnesota joins its Big Ten brethren in the rankings as well. There are five Big 12 schools in the first edition of the rankings. Summit League foes Oral Roberts and South Dakota State are No. 12 and 13, respectively, in the region to join NDSU at No. 15.
NDSU is paced by redshirt freshman Andy Lillejord, who is ranked No. 10 nationally in the heptathlon with 5,254 points. Senior Ted Rud is 15th in the heptathlon with 5,163 points.
USTFCCCA Midwest Region Rankings
1. Illinois
2. Iowa
3. Nebraska
4. Oklahoma
5. Minnesota
6. Southern Illinois
7. Missouri
8. Iowa State
9. Wichita State
10. Northern Iowa
11. Eastern Illinois
12. Oral Roberts
13. South Dakota State
14. Kansas
15. North Dakota State
