DICKINSON, N.D. -- The Bruins distance track squad opened the NSAA Outdoor Track Championships by taking the top two podium spots in their only event of the day. Dickinson State is hosting the two-day event and Thursday's events were held under cool conditions and intermittent showers.

The women's 10,000-meter run was the final event of the day and the Bruin entries featured defending 10K champion Madison Nelson and the event debut by Hannah Perkins. The rain stopped momentarily and Nelson broke from the pack early and was never challenged as she ran to her second consecutive conference title. Her time of 39:36.91 was just off her meet record time established last year.

The battle for the other two all-conference spots was hotly contested in a group that included Perkins. She started in sixth position and worked slowly through the field, finally moving into second with just three of the twenty-five laps remaining. Some confusion at the finish caused her to go to her finishing kick on two consecutive laps but a gutsy finish brought her home in second. Her time was 42:13.50.

The Bruins resume action on day two beginning with the steeplechase at noon. The Bruins have additional entries in the 800, 1,500, and 5,000-meter events.