Bemidji, Minn. --- The fourth-rated Minnesota State men's track and field team sits in first place of the NSIC Championships hosted by Bemidji State on Friday. The Mavericks totaled 63 points on the first day highlighted by Chris Reed and Keyvan Rudd each winning championships in their respected events.

Rudd, a senior, took the top spot in the high jump leaping 6' 9" earning 10 points for the Purple and Gold. This marks the third time Rudd has won the championship in this event (two indoor, one outdoor). Freshman Frank Veldman earned eight points for the Mavericks finishing in second place with a leap of 6' 9" while fellow freshman Benjamin Ojika earned four points placing fifth clearing 6' 5". Junior Nathan Hancock also earned a point placing eighth with a jump of 6' 3.25".

Reed earned 10 points by winning the championship in the shot put with a throw of 63' 11". This is the thrower's second indoor championship and fifth championship overall in this event. In the long jump junior Rumeal Harris leaped 22' 6.25" placing third and earning six team points. Hancock took sixth place leaping 21' 11.75" while Ojika placed eighth leaping 21' 7.5".

The Mavericks had the top three qualifying times in the 60-meter hurdles as freshman Myles Hunter finished first (8.07), Ojika finished second (8.27), and senior Slater Powell took third (8.29). In the 60-meter dash senior Jerrell Hancock qualified for the finals with a time of 6.82 and junior Carmono Lane qualified with a time of 6.94.

Lane also qualified for the finals in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.26 along with junior Anthony Gustafson who qualified with a time of 22.18. Both Hancocks, Jerrell and Nathan, qualified in the 400-meter dash finishing with times of 48.77 and 50.54. Sophomore Zach Gearman will be participating in the finals of the 600-meter run as he finished with a time of 1:22.02.

Junior Alexander Schoneberger and sophomore Alex Lugo each qualified in the 800-meter run finishing with times of 1:58.32 and 1:58.65 respectively. Junior Matthew Stocker had the top qualifying time in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:33.98 while freshman Brennan Holman qualified eighth with a time of 2:35.56.

To view the complete results click HERE.

Day two of the NSIC Championships will start at 10 a.m. tomorrow with the men's weight throw, women's pole vault, and men's triple jump. The finals of all the track events will begin at 1 p.m.