SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League released the Preseason Coaches' Poll on Thursday, with North Dakota's women selected fourth and the UND men picked fifth. Along with the Preseason Poll,
Kenna Curry,
Jadyn Keeler,
Jiri Ceska and
Ethan Thomas were also named Athletes to Watch in the Summit League this season.
Curry, the 2024 Summit League Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, was a Second Team All-American at the NCAA Championships and finished 14th in the weight throw with a toss of 67-3 1/2 (20.51m). By competing at the national championship meet, she became just the third North Dakota student-athlete to compete at indoor nationals in UND's Division I history. Curry also had a pair of sensational performances at the Summit League Championships and was named the Field Championship M.V.P. At the conference meet, Curry was a two-time All-Summit League performer and was responsible for 18 of UND's 120 points scored, capturing the gold medal in the weight throw (69-2, 21.08m) and the silver in the shot put (50-6, 15.39m). Her shot put mark tied her PR, which set the school record at the UND Open earlier in the season.
Keeler placed seventh in the 3,000 meters (9:47.26) and eighth in the 5,000 meters (17:24.72) at the 2024 Summit League Indoor Championships. During the regular season, she posted the No. 2 time in school history in the 3,000 meters at the Washington Invitational with a time of 9:40.61. She also had the second-fastest time in UND history in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:48.97 at the David Hemery Invitational. Keeler also put down a PR time of 4:59.44 in the mile at the Jim Emmerich Invitational.
Ceska was a seven-time national champion in the Czech Republic and will be in his freshman season at North Dakota. He qualified for both the 2023 and 2024 U20 World Championships and the U20 European Championships. Ceska ran prep bests in the 400 meters (49.42), 800 meters (1:48.88) and 1,500 meters (3:53.37).
Thomas, also entering his freshman season as a Fighting Hawk, won the shot put (63-11), discus (191-7) and javelin (185-7) at the 2024 NDHSAA Class A State Championships and became the first athlete to capture all three crowns at the state meet since 1915. All of his marks at the state meet were also his prep-bests. Thomas also placed eighth in the javelin (169-0) at the 2023 state meet.
North Dakota will open its season this weekend, competing at the SDSU Holiday Open in Brookings on Friday and at both the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener and the New Balance Early Bird Invitational in Boston on Saturday.
2025 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Points (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
North Dakota State |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
39 (1) |
| 3. |
South Dakota State |
37 |
| 4. |
North Dakota |
34 |
| 5. |
St. Thomas |
24 |
| 6. |
Kansas City |
18 |
| 7. |
Omaha |
12 |
| 8. |
Oral Roberts |
11 |
2025 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Points (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
North Dakota State |
35 (5) |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
30 (1) |
| 3. |
South Dakota State |
28 (1) |
| 4. |
St. Thomas |
20 |
| 5. |
North Dakota |
17 |
| 6. |
Kansas City |
11 |
| 7. |
Oral Roberts |
6 |
For more information on North Dakota track & field, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC.
