FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. – The North Dakota State men's cross country team posted a strong performance at the Roy Griak Invitational on Friday morning, making a significant leap in the team standings over their placing one year ago.
 
The Bison men raced to an 11th-place team finish at a rainy Les Bolstad Golf Course, improving 10 spots in the team standings from last season.
 
Sophomore Symon Keiser led NDSU in 58th place overall, clocking a personal-best 25:17.2 for the eight-kilometer course. Junior Jake Arason was 63rd in 25:24.6, and freshman Hunter McHenry took 70th in 25:30.7.
 
Payton Smith (80th) was the No. 4 finisher for the Bison in 25:38.4, and Hunter Klimek completed the team scoring in 25:49.3 for 92nd place.
 
NDSU's top eight finishers on Friday all posted faster times than the best time by a Bison at the Griak Invitational last year.