STERLING, Ill. – Senior Shawn Francis won the pole vault and reached an NCAA provisional qualifying mark to lead the North Dakota State men’s track and field team to first place after day one of the Summit League Championships. The Bison have 63 points. Southern Utah is second with 34 points and South Dakota State is third with 30.
Francis’ mark of 17-0 ¾ is second on the all-time performance charts at NDSU and he is only the second Bison ever to clear 17 feet. He led a 1-2-3 sweep in the event for the Bison. Senior Matt Bishoff was second with a mark of 16-0 ¾ and junior Cody Gronvold was third with a jump of 15-7.