MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – North Dakota State senior Maddy Nilles improved her school record in the weight throw and moved into the top five in the nation this season, highlighting the efforts of the Bison women's track & field team at the Jack Johnson Classic on Saturday.
 
Nilles added a foot to her previous NDSU record in the weight throw, launching 72-04.50 (22.06m) to win easily. She now ranks fifth in the NCAA this season.
 
Bison sophomore Akealy Moton threw an indoor personal-best of 56-02.00 (17.12m) to win the shot put, as the NDSU women swept the throwing events. She moved up to No. 2 all-time at NDSU and No. 6 in the NCAA this season.
 
Senior Shelby Gunnells took second in the shot put behind Akealy Moton, throwing 55-01.00 (16.79m). She also remains in the NCAA's Top 10 this season. Both Gunnells and Moton broke the previous Jack Johnson Classic meet record.
 
Junior Kelby Anderson won the 3,000m, taking first place in 9:33.60. Melina Kuerschner finished third in 10:12.36 for the Bison.
 
The Bison women won the 4x400m relay with the team of Paige Harris, Grace Zimmerman, Nell Graham and Alyssa Lind running 3:54.04.
 
Graham (1:36.01) and Harris (1:36.05) finished first and second in the 600m. Lind (57.67) and Zimmerman (58.19) finished second and third in the 400m dash.
 
Bison junior Katie Bye won the 800m in 2:16.14, and freshman KayDee Wescom (Bismarck Legacy HS) was second in 2:18.63.
 
The Bison women swept the top four places in the mile, with Brynnan Covington winning in 5:09.41 and Alaysia Freetly the runner-up in 5:09.73. Sophomores Erin Valgardson and Mikayla Koenig were third and fourth.
 
NDSU sophomore Jodi Lipp won the triple jump with a mark of 38-04.00 (11.68m).
 
Freshman Kendra Kelley (Cloquet, Minn.) won the 200m dash, finishing in 25.71. Kelley (7.82), Katie Heilman (7.88) and Lipp (7.92) finished 2-4-5 in the 60m dash final. Heilman and Lipp clocked personal-bests.
 
Junior Jenna Kes took runner-up honors in the long jump, leaping 17-10.75 (5.45m). Rachel Bring (60-05.25 / 18.42m) and Amanda Anderson (60-03.00 / 18.36m) added personal-bests in the weight throw.
 
NDSU returns home next weekend to host the Bison Open on Feb. 7-8.