The South Dakota women return nine of the 10 individuals who competed at the Great West Conference meet in 2010, while the South Dakota men return seven individuals with significant experience, including two-time all-conference honoree Ethan Marquardt and the 2010 Great West Conference Freshman of the Year, Jeff Mettler.

The 2011 season will mark the Coyotes' first as members of the Summit League; they will compete in the Summit League Championships on Oct. 29 in Tulsa, Okla. The Coyote women were picked to finish fourth in the Summit League in a preseason coaches poll while the men were picked to finish sixth.

Here is a closer look at the two Coyote teams as they begin 2011: Women Junior all-conference performer Carol Miller (Mead, Neb.) leads a women's team that has just two seniors but is loaded with veterans. Miller finished ninth at the GWC championships in 2010 and was the team's top runner in the last three meets of the season.

Sophomore Megan Hilson (Yankton, S.D.) is also back after barely missing all-conference honors a year ago; she was one of the Coyotes' top two runners in every meet in 2010. Senior Kelsey Robish (Huron, S.D.) and junior Jessica Brandli (Rapid City, S.D.) both return after solid 2010 campaigns. Robish placed in South Dakota's top five four times a year ago, while Brandli was in the team's top five three times. Sophomores Kristin Steffen (Crofton, Neb.) and Ashleigh Giese (Marshall, Wis.) also were key contributors last season and were among the top seven at the conference meet. The team will also look to junior Sigornie Pfefferle (Grand Island, Neb.) to return to form; she was an all-conference runner as a freshman but was slowed by injuries in 2010.

Others looking to be factors in the Coyote lineup include senior Abby Duling (Gregory, S.D.), sophomore Jilanne Doom (Wagner, S.D.), junior Ali Gress (Papillion, Neb.), junior Kasey Hohl (Sioux City, Iowa), freshman Josee Jansen (Sioux City, Iowa) sophomore Alena Laber (Parkson, S.D.), freshman Kasey Presler (Sioux Falls, S.D.), sophomore Britni Waller (Lincoln, Neb.) and junior Shannon Fitzsimmons (Yankton, S.D.). Doom is a transfer form Concordia University (Calif.), while Jansen and Presler both come to South Dakota after accomplished high school careers.

Men Marquardt (Albert Lea, Minn.), a junior, returns to anchor the Coyote lineup. He was 12th overall at the Great West meet in 2010 and finished in the team's top five at five meets during the season. Mettler (Eureka, S.D.), a sophomore, was the 2010 GWC Freshman of the Year after finishing 13th at the conference meet.

Sophomore Travis Brenner (Yankton, S.D.) also returns; he was the team's top runner three times last year and won the Coyotes' dual vs. North Dakota. Junior Mark Hayden (St. Louis, Mo.) was also a key contributor last year, finishing in the team's top five at all six meets.

Also returning with experience from a year ago include senior Nick Beare (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and sophomores Alex Hohenthaner (Yankton, S.D.) . Sophomore Eric Thien (Tipton, Iowa) had a promising 2009 freshman season but missed 2010 with after an injury; his return should bolster the Coyote lineup.

The Coyotes also have a core of talented freshmen looking to be key contributors this fall: Jordan Fuglestad (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Brant Haase (Lemmon, S.D.), Taylor Huseman (Manson, Iowa), Stephen Nielson (Pierre, S.D.) and Patrick Peterson (Sioux Falls, S.D.).