FARGO, ND--North Dakota State gained 20 team points toward the North Central Conference track & field championship in the decathlon Tuesday at Schlanser Track.

The Bison duo of senior Nate Schmidt and junior Andy Aakre finished 1-2 for the second straight season, and the Bison also got a seventh place performance from senior Jake Ridl.

Schmidt's winning score of 7,483 points missed his own NCC record by only 30 points, is the best mark in Division II this year, and made Schmidt the first North Central Conference athlete to win four straight decathlon crowns.

Schmidt won six of the 10 events, including the 110-meter hurdles (:14.65), the discus throw (133-7) and the pole vault (14-3 1/4) on Tuesday.

Aakre finished with 7,246 total points. He was runner-up Tuesday in the 1,500-meter run (4:26.08) but earned more individual points from a third-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles (:15.44). Decathlon points are awarded based on performance, not placefinishes.

Ridl won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:21.82 that was good for 799 individual points. He finished with a total of 5,704.

North Dakota State will carry a nine-point lead over St. Cloud State into the full North Central Conference meet, which is scheduled for May 7-8 at Schlanser Track.

FINAL NCC DECATHLON SCORES
1, Nate Schmidt, North Dakota State, 7483
2, Andy Aakre, North Dakota State, 7246
3, Ryan Koch, St. Cloud State, 6586
4, Jason Koch, St. Cloud State, 6509
5, Josh Rasmussen, Minnesota State-Mankato, 6357
6, Jim Vahrenkamp, South Dakota, 6098
7, Jake Ridl, North Dakota State, 5704

NCC TEAM STANDINGS (One Event Scored)
1, North Dakota State, 20
2, St. Cloud State, 11
3, Minnesota State-Mankato, 4
4, South Dakota, 3