2003-2004 North Dakota State University Cross Country/Track ...

NDSU RETURNS 20 of its 29 individual placewinners from last year’s North Central Conference outdoor meet. The
Bison used 47 individual place finishes and two relay titles to set a school and league outdoor record for team points with 306 1/2.
Strong, Balanced Bison Ready For Last Run At NCC Titles
Expect more of the same from North
Dakota State in men’s track & field this
year. Depth, talent, balance and
experience--it’s all there again.
The Bison have been nothing less than
excellent in past years, winning 20 outdoor and
13 indoor North Central Conference championships
under the direction of Don Larson.
In his 25th year as the NDSU coach,
Larson will be guiding the Bison through the
school’s final year of Division II and NCC
competition.
North Dakota State is set to go out with a
bang. The Bison return 20 of 29 individual
placewinners from last year’s NCC outdoor
title-winning squad that posted a league record
for team points.
Two of the best multi-event athletes in the
country highlight this year’s squad.
Combined with balance in the running
events and a young crew in the field events
capable of scoring points, the Bison are not
only a force in the North Central Conference,
but a team capable of qualifying several athletes
for NCAA championships.
MULTI-EVENTS: Defending NCAA
decathlon champion Nathan Schmidt
(Redwood Falls, MN) highlights a strong trio
of returners. Schmidt is the odds-on favorite to
become the first four-time North Central
Conference decathlon champion. He has been
the league runner-up in the pentathlon twice in
his career.
Andrew Aakre (Stephen, MN) was
runner-up in the NCC decathlon last year and
placed third in the country. Aakre is the Bison
Sports Arena pentathlon points record holder.
Kyle Herman (Bismarck, ND) gave the
Bison a strong third punch last year after
transferring from Northern Iowa. Herman was
sixth in the NCC decathlon and ninth in the
NCAA last year. He was third in the conference
pentathlon.
DISTANCES: The Bison have talent
from 800 to 5,000 meters including a pair of
cross country All-Americans in Darik Hoff
(Bismarck, ND) and Chris Perleberg
(Jamestown, ND).
Hoff is back from a redshirt year and will
run anywhere from 800 to 5,000 while
specializing in the longer treks. Perleberg will
run 3,000 and beyond and be the favorite in the
steeplechase when the outdoor season arrives.
Seven-time All-American Andy Moen
(Morris, MN) will try to close out his career in
style. In his sixth year with NDSU, Moen will
be eligible only in the outdoor season, but the
Bison will take that. Moen should be a
standout at 800 meters and see a lot of relay
action. He has been part of two championship
3,200-meter units at the Drake Relays and five
North Central Conference championship
relays.
The Bison will get good support from
returners Jake Januszewski (Perham, MN),
Chris Hagan (Jamestown, ND) and Jedd
Danielson (New London, MN). Januszewski
was close to an All-America finish at the 2003
national cross country meet.
And, it appears NDSU has a strong
freshman class that could make waves.
Chad Bergan (Valley City, ND), Greg
Liebl (Montevideo, MN) and Eric Palmquist
(Warroad, MN) will look to contribute in their
first year with the Herd. Bergan won two state
cross country titles in high school and was
North Dakota’s “Mr. Cross Country” in 2002.
Liebl won a state title in Minnesota and was a
four-time placer.
SPRINTS/HURDLES: Without doubt,
North Dakota State’s success begins in the
sprints. The one-two punch of juniors Allen
Burrell (Aurora, CO) and Marques Johnson
(Milwaukee, WI) should put the Bison at the
top of the conference and among the best in the
nation in the short sprints. The duo flipflopped
double championship performances at
last year’s NCC meets (Johnson winning the
60 and 200 indoors and Burrell the 100 and 200
outdoors).
Jared Essler (Minot, ND) will handle the
duties at 200 and 400 meters and be an integral
part of the relay units along with Academic
All-American mid-distance performer
Terrance Wolbaum (Bismarck, ND). Look
for the emergence of Reece Vega (St. Charles,
MN) in this area as well. Vega ran strong as a
true freshman and is capable of helping the
Bison to the national meet in the relays.
Peter Stuart (Blaine, MN) will be the ace
hurdler in his third year. A five-time conference
placewinner, Stuart can do it at any
distance indoors or outdoors. Depth in this
department is the question.
Five-time NCC placewinner Ben Lee
(Fargo, ND) is back from a redshirt year.
Aakre will probably help out on the short track
indoors, and Schmidt will be a contributor in
the outdoor hurdles, where he has been a
conference placewinner three times in the 110
and 400-meter hurdles.
JUMPS: North Dakota State returns
three-time NCC placewinner Ryan Lesnau
(Garfield, MN) in the high jump, but then there
is some uncertainty.
Johnson has placed in the NCC indoor
long jump for two consecutive years in addition
to his sprinting duties, and he will be counted
on for more time in the sand pit again this year.
Junior Matt Stockert (Dickinson, ND)
may become the top triple jumper early on
with the absence of defending outdoor league
champion Matthew Gordon-Jackson
(Minneapolis, MN), who is recovering from a
leg injury and will not be back in time for the
indoor season. Stockert can tickle the 45-foot
mark and that may be good enough for points
in conference action.
Much of Aakre’s talent lies in the triple
jump, and he will contribute greatly in that
area. Schmidt can take on double duty in the
long jump and high jump.
The return of two-time NCC placer
Donte Pettis (Milwaukee, WI) in the high
jump will be crucial, but that may be a while.
Pettis walked on to the Bison men’s basketball
team and may not be back until March.
POLE VAULT: The top job in the vault
will be up for grabs between Academic All-
American Marc Steckler (Fargo, ND) and
Herman.
Steckler has neared 16-5 in his career and
is a five-time league placewinner with the pole.
Herman has concentrated on the vault outside
of his multi-event duties and is one of the best
the Bison have to offer.
Dan Otis (Devils Lake, ND) is next in
line. Otis has surpassed the 16-foot mark and
is showing signs of climbing further.
THROWS: Pat Morgan (Dilworth,
MN) is the most successful returner here with
five placefinishes in the North Central
Conference. He will throw the weight and shot
all year and mix in the hammer throw outdoors.
John Christensen (Mercer, ND) and
Ross Kramer (Wishek, ND) are ready to move
into the spotlight after two years of prep work.
Both will throw the weight, shot, disc and
hammer.
Darren Clabo (Brainerd, MN), Reid
Conlon (Dickinson, ND) and walk-on Rob
Mamula (West Linn, OR) give the Herd
outstanding depth in the throws.
The lineup of North Dakota throwers
continues with defending NCC javelin
champion Chad Oukrop (Dickinson, ND) and
Andrew Mauch (Hankinson, ND).
Freshman Ben Clooten (Fairbanks, AK)
may challenge for action in his rookie year.
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