Nick Moran and Brendon Pineda both claimed individual titles and helped lead the University of Minnesota Duluth to a fourth-place finish at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Minnesota State University-Mankato cruised to its fourth consecutive team crown at the 12-team, two-day event, which concluded Saturday afternoon, with 202.50 points and was followed by Augustana College (92 pts.), Minnesota State University-Moorhead (84 pts.), UMD (83 pts.), St. Cloud State University (72) and the host, University of Sioux Falls (69 pts.).

"Our six competing seniors provided some tremendous leadership this weekend for the 12 freshmen who were making their NSIC outdoor debuts," said head coach Paul Nisius, whose Bulldogs placed fifth one year ago and the league's outdoor meet.  "All six of those seniors reached the podium in an individual event or relay and I'm proud of what they and the rest of our team accomplished in Sioux Falls."

Moran, a senior team captain from Monticello, Minn., personally accounted for 15 of UMD's 83 points, winning the hammer throw on Friday with a toss of 181'-08" and later that day took fourth in discus event (161'-08").  Pineda, who joined the UMD track  program this spring after completing his first season as a starting guard with the basketball Bulldogs, prevailed in the shot put with a winning effort of 55'-07.00".  He and senior Devin Sowers, who was fourth in that same competition (52'-04.50) both attained NCAA Division II provisional-qualifying mark. Sophomore Jason Lilja snared runnerup honors in the men's high jump (6'-08.00") and senior Dan Nielsen did likewise in the 3,000 meter steeplechase -- a race he won one year ago -- with a NCAA II provisional-qualifying clocking of 9:09.42. UMD's list of point getters also included rookies Connor Behm in the 400-meter dash (4th place; 48.94) and Garrett Benz in the 800-meter run (4th; 1;55.04), sophomore Brian Lee in the hammer throw (4th; 175'-07"), junior James Ryan in the 110-meter hurdles (6th; 15.04), freshman Josh Peterson in the 800-meter run (6th; 1:55.78), Sowers in the discus throw (6th; 159'-03") and junior Kern Wilson in the hammer throw (8th; 163'-08")

In addition, the 4 x 400 relay unit of Behm, senior Phil d'Entremont, and freshmen Darrick Jackson and Frank Deluca placed third (3:18.45) while senior Jacob Nelson and Holden Olson teammed with first-year Bulldogs Joey Kolpin and Nick Beattie to finish eighth in the 4 x 100 relay.

The top three finishers in each event and the top two relay teams received All-NSIC recognition.

2015 NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results