Thursday, May 24
Sacramento, Calif.
2 p.m.
North Dakota State Athletics
at
NCAA West Preliminary Rounds - Day One
Photo by: Landon Jochim
Bison Men Primed for Competition at NCAA West Prelims
5/22/2018 3:16:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
NCAA Preliminary Rounds Qualifiers
Schedule of Events (PDF)
Meet Info
Live Results | Live Video
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State men's track & field team has qualified eight student-athletes with a total of 11 entries to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds held May 24-26 in Sacramento, Calif.
Junior Payton Otterdahl enters the meet ranked first in the West in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Senior Steffan Stroh is No. 4 in the West in the hammer throw, with Austin Schmidt (No. 14 in javelin) and Alex Talley (No. 15 in shot put) also near the top 12. Otterdahl, Stroh and Talley will all compete in two throwing events.
NDSU Men's Schedule of Events (all times Pacific)
Thursday, May 24
Friday, May 25
Saturday, May 26
How to Advance
The top 12 finishers in each event at the Preliminary Rounds will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 6-9.
In the hammer, javelin, discus and shot put, all 48 competitors will receive a single round of three attempts. The top 12 marks overall advance to the NCAA Championships.
In the 3,000m steeplechase, the top three from three quarterfinal heats, plus the next three fastest times (12), advance to the NCAA Championships.
In the 5,000m, the top five from both heats, plus the next two fastest times advance to the NCAA Championships.
High Level
Outside of the Power 5 conferences, NDSU's 30 combined entries between men and women at the NCAA Prelims are the third-most in the country. Only BYU and Houston have more entries.
Top Throws Program
The NDSU men and women combined for 23 entries in the throwing events at the NCAA Prelims to lead the nation.
Veteran Presence
Senior Austin Schmidt will be making his fourth NCAA West Prelims appearance in the javelin, and senior Steffan Stroh will be making his third appearance in both the hammer throw and shot put.
First Timers
Redshirt freshman Alex Talley (shot put, hammer throw) and sophomore Michael Keogan (shot put) will be making their first West Preliminary Rounds appearances.
Different Shade of Green
Senior Jake Leingang (5,000m) will be competing for NDSU for the first time at the West Prelims after running for Oregon in 2015 and 2016, advancing to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000m both times.
Nine Straight League Titles
The Bison men have captured nine consecutive Summit League outdoor team titles and 10 in 11 years since joining the league prior to the 2008 season.
Schedule of Events (PDF)
Meet Info
Live Results | Live Video
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State men's track & field team has qualified eight student-athletes with a total of 11 entries to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds held May 24-26 in Sacramento, Calif.
Junior Payton Otterdahl enters the meet ranked first in the West in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Senior Steffan Stroh is No. 4 in the West in the hammer throw, with Austin Schmidt (No. 14 in javelin) and Alex Talley (No. 15 in shot put) also near the top 12. Otterdahl, Stroh and Talley will all compete in two throwing events.
NDSU Men's Schedule of Events (all times Pacific)
Thursday, May 24
- 12 p.m. – Hammer Throw – Steffan Stroh, Alex Talley, Jacob McBride
Friday, May 25
- 12 p.m. – Discus – Payton Otterdahl
- 8:20 p.m. – 3,000m Steeplechase – Brant Gilbertson
Saturday, May 26
- 12 p.m. – Javelin – Austin Schmidt
- 4:30 p.m. – Shot Put – Payton Otterdahl, Alex Talley, Steffan Stroh, Michael Keogan
- 8:05 p.m. – 5,000m – Jake Leingang
How to Advance
The top 12 finishers in each event at the Preliminary Rounds will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 6-9.
In the hammer, javelin, discus and shot put, all 48 competitors will receive a single round of three attempts. The top 12 marks overall advance to the NCAA Championships.
In the 3,000m steeplechase, the top three from three quarterfinal heats, plus the next three fastest times (12), advance to the NCAA Championships.
In the 5,000m, the top five from both heats, plus the next two fastest times advance to the NCAA Championships.
High Level
Outside of the Power 5 conferences, NDSU's 30 combined entries between men and women at the NCAA Prelims are the third-most in the country. Only BYU and Houston have more entries.
Top Throws Program
The NDSU men and women combined for 23 entries in the throwing events at the NCAA Prelims to lead the nation.
Veteran Presence
Senior Austin Schmidt will be making his fourth NCAA West Prelims appearance in the javelin, and senior Steffan Stroh will be making his third appearance in both the hammer throw and shot put.
First Timers
Redshirt freshman Alex Talley (shot put, hammer throw) and sophomore Michael Keogan (shot put) will be making their first West Preliminary Rounds appearances.
Different Shade of Green
Senior Jake Leingang (5,000m) will be competing for NDSU for the first time at the West Prelims after running for Oregon in 2015 and 2016, advancing to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000m both times.
Nine Straight League Titles
The Bison men have captured nine consecutive Summit League outdoor team titles and 10 in 11 years since joining the league prior to the 2008 season.
| Athlete | Year | Event | West Region Rank |
Prelims Appearance |
Personal Best | Season Best | NDSU All-Time Rank |
| Payton Otterdahl | Jr. | Shot put | 1st | 3rd | 68-09.25 (20.96m) | 68-09.25 (20.96m) | 1st |
| Discus | 5th | 3rd | 195-0 (59.45m) | 195-0 (59.45m) | 1st | ||
| Steffan Stroh | Sr. | Hammer | 4th | 3rd | 224-10 (68.52m) | 224-10 (68.52m) | 1st |
| Shot put | 17th | 3rd | 60-11.50 (18.58m) | 60-11.50 (18.58m) | 5th | ||
| Austin Schmidt | Sr. | Javelin | 14th | 4th | 226-7 (69.07m) | 226-7 (69.07m) | 4th |
| Alex Talley | RFr. | Shot put | 15th | 1st | 61-00.00 (18.59m) | 61-00.00 (18.59m) | 4th |
| Hammer | 35th | 1st | 202-8 (61.78m) | 202-8 (61.78m) | 5th | ||
| Michael Keogan | So. | Shot put | 34th | 1st | 59-00.75 (18.00m) | 59-00.75 (18.00m) | 7th |
| Brant Gilbertson | Sr. | Steeplechase | 37th | 2nd | 8:56.00 | 8:56.00 | 3rd |
| Jacob McBride | Sr. | Hammer | 42nd | 2nd | 200-7 (61.14m) | 199-11 (60.93m) | 6th |
| Jake Leingang | Sr. | 5,000m | 43rd | 3rd | 13:43.04 | 14:03.13 | 1st |
Players Mentioned
MD
/ Men's Track and Field
THR
/ Men's Track and Field
DIST
/ Men's Track and Field
THR
/ Men's Track and Field
TH
/ Men's Track and Field
Jav
/ Men's Track and Field
TH
/ Men's Track and Field
THR
/ Men's Track and FieldNDSU Feature: Reagan Baesler
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