GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota State men's cross country team claimed runner-up honors at the Summit League Championships held Saturday at Ray Richards Golf Course.
 
South Dakota State won its seventh straight Summit League men's team title with 18 points. The Bison finished with a score of 64 for second place – a significant improvement after scoring 93 points at the conference meet last year. St. Thomas took third in the team standings with 78.
 
Junior Hunter Klimek was the top finisher for NDSU, taking ninth place overall in 23:29.0 for the 8k course. Jake Arason placed 11th in 23:26.7, Symon Keiser finished 13th in 23:39.9, and Hunter McHenry was 14th in 23:45.9. Tyson Mahar completed the team scoring for the Bison in 24:01.3 for 18th place.
 
McHenry was named the Summit League Newcomer of the Championship as the top-finishing true freshman.
 
NDSU put seven men in the top 22, with Zach Johnson in 21st and Payton Smith in 22nd. All nine Bison who entered the meet recorded career-best times for the 8k.
 
Klimek, Arason, Keiser and McHenry each earned All-Summit League second team honors by virtue of their top-14 finishes.
 
The Bison men have now finished second at five of the last six Summit League Cross Country Championships.
 
NDSU will race next at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Columbia, Mo., on Friday, Nov. 11.