WALNUT, CALIF. - Brianne Edwards of the South Dakota Women's Track and Field Team set a school record in winning the heptathlon competition and picking up a national title at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships on Friday afternoon in Walnut, Calif.

Edwards, a senior from Spearfish, S.D., scored a school record 5,301 points, just missing the B qualifying mark for the U.S. Olympic Trials. She finished just 150 points from that B standard. She will try and reach that trials B standard at a meet later this spring. In her final nationals as a Coyote, Edwards became USD's 14th national champion. Sarah Hoffman, a senior from Mitchell, S.D., who was third in the heptathlon at the 2003 nationals, finished fifth in the heptathlon competition with 4,788 points.

"Brianne gave an extraordinary effort today," said USD head women's track and field coach Lucky Huber, who was named the USCTA national women's Division II coach of the year on Wednesday. "She gave a gutsy performance. The competition went back and forth and Brianne came through big time. We are very proud of her efforts and that of Sarah Hoffman," said Huber, noting that Edwards will also compete on Friday in the 100 meter hurdles competition at nationals.

Edwards, who was fifth in the heptathlon at the 2003 NCAA Division II Outdoor nationals, earlier won the heptathlon competition at the North Central Conference meet earlier this spring. She also captured the 100 meter hurdles at the NCC meet. Edwards, who was the NCC Indoor MVP, also was named the NCC Outdoor MVP this spring. Edwards owns the NCC Indoor Pentathlon mark with a conference and school record 3,644 points.

With her performance today, The Spearfish senior picked up her fourth All-American honor.