North Dakota State track and field teams delivered impressive performances over the weekend, taking first place in multiple events at the Music City Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt and the SDSU Indoor Classic in Brookings, S.D.

Women

Starting on Friday at Vanderbilt, sophomore Anika Larson set a personal-best time of 24.34 seconds, ranking her seventh in NDSU indoor history. Freshman Elise Wisnewski followed closely, clocking in at 24.39 seconds to secure the eighth spot on the all-time list. Freshman Riika Tirkkonen posted a personal best of 24.52 seconds.

In the mile, sophomore Reagan Baesler took almost five seconds off her personal best time, finishing in 4:45.32 to become the sixth-fastest in school history. Teammate Grace Link ran a season-best 4:49.79, while freshmen Reagan Berg (4:53.82) and Jaelyn Miller (4:54.12) recorded significant personal bests.

The Bison also excelled in field events, with sophomore Arienne Birch winning the high jump by clearing 5-8 (1.73m). Freshman Nyariek Kur made her season debut in the event, clearing 5-6 (1.68m). In the long jump, senior Grace Emineth secured third place with a mark of 19-6 (5.94m), while Makenna Vollmer finished fifth at 18-11.25 (5.77m).

At the SDSU Indoor Classic, senior Merrideth Spiers dominated the weight throw, winning the event with a mark of 66.6 (19.96m). Jacee Johannsen claimed victory in the pole vault, clearing 13-3.5 (4.05m), while unattached Bison freshman Casidi Pehler took second with a vault of 12-3.5 (3.75m). In the shot put, junior Adison Kapitzke set a personal best by more than two feet, throwing 51-00 (15.54 meters) to place second.

 Saturday in Nashville was an eventful one for the Bison as sophomore Anika Larson set a new personal best twice in the 60m dash, running 7.45 seconds in the semifinals before improving to 7.41 seconds in the final to secure third place. Her time now ranks second-fastest in NDSU history.

In the field events, freshman Nyariek Kur claimed victory in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 41-7 (12.67m), placing her fourth in NDSU indoor history. Senior Grace Emineth finished just behind Kur with an identical leap of 41-7 (12.67m), marking the second-best performance of her career.

Reagan Baesler shaved over six seconds off her personal best in the 3000m, clocking 9:26.91 for fourth place. The time moves her up to No. 3 on NDSU’s all-time list, trailing only NCAA All-Americans Erin Teschuk and Jennie Baragar-Petrash. Senior Grace Link also posted a personal best in the 3000m, running 9:37.64, which ranks eighth in school history. Kate LeBlanc ran an indoor 800m personal best of 2:11.06, while Acey Elkins and freshman Jaelyn Miller recorded PRs of 2:15.11 and 2:15.74.

Meanwhile, at the SDSU Indoor Classic in Brookings, Soraya Espino clocked a personal best in the 400m dash, running 55.90 to secure fourth place.

Men

North Dakota State sophomore Ethan Moe highlighted the men’s team on Friday, setting a new school record in the mile in Vanderbilt.

Moe crossed the finish line in 4:02.92, surpassing the previous NDSU record of 4:03.35 set by Travis Fitzke in 2012. The performance marked a personal best by nearly five seconds for Moe, who also holds the Bison’s 1000m indoor record, claimed earlier this season in January.

Sophomore Jayden Williams secured victory in his section of the long jump with a personal-best mark of 24-02.25 (7.37m), taking him to eighth place in NDSU’s all-time indoor rankings. Freshman Tyler Milkes sprinted to a time of 21.86 in the 200m dash, earning the no. 9 spot in NDSU’s indoor history. Meanwhile, Andrew Berg cleared 6-7 (2.01m) in the high jump to finish in fifth place.

At the SDSU Indoor Classic in Brookings, S.D., Jarod White soared over 16-04.75 (5.00m) to claim victory in the pole vault, while teammate Paul Olson matched his personal record of 14-05.25 (4.40m) in the same event. In the shot put, Zack Ramos secured a runner-up finish with a throw of 57-05.00 (17.50m). On the track, Hunter Klimek led the Bison men in the 5000m, posting a time of 14:37.92, with Jacob Knodle following close behind at 14:38.85.

The day after setting a school record in the mile, Moe continued his weekend with another top performance at the Music City Challenge, clocking a personal-best time of 1:50.64 in the indoor 800 meters on Saturday and securing the no. 5 spot on NDSU’s all-time list.

Freshman Reece Grosserode tied his season-best mark in the triple jump, landing at 49-8.25 (15.14m) to finish seventh in the event. His performance also placed him eighth on NDSU’s indoor record list.

In the 60-meter hurdles, senior Brock Johnsen finished seventh, running 7.95 seconds in the prelims before clocking 7.99 in the final.

At the SDSU Indoor Classic in Brookings, Jayden Murdock secured a third-place finish in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 22.25 seconds.