May 22, 2014

VERMILLION, S.D. - South Dakota track and field will send 15 athletes to the NCAA West Region Preliminary Round starting on May 29 at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The meet serves as the preamble to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 11.

South Dakota upped its qualifiers to the meet from 11 last year. The top 48 declared athletes in each event qualified for the meet while the top 12 finishers from each individual event will move on to the championships in Eugene, Ore.

Ten of USD's athletes will compete on Thursday with nine of those competing in field events. Meghan Dennis will lead off by competing at 11 a.m. in the women's javelin after ranking 29^th in the region (156 feet, 8 inches). Also throwing on Thursday is Kyle McKelvey, who will throw in the men's shot put at 2 p.m. after finishing ninth in the region (63-1½), and Danielle Waldner, who throws in the women's shot put at 6:30 p.m. after finishing 38^th in the region (50-6¾).

South Dakota will also have one men's pole vaulter and four women's pole vaulters compete on Thursday. Kyle Ballew competes in the men's event at 1 p.m. after posting the field's 47^th-best mark (16-11¾). Madison Mills (ninth in region - 13-9¼), Hunter Wilkes (13^th - 13-7¼), Bethany Firsick (23^rd - 13-5¾) and Emily Brigham (24^th - 13-5¾) represent USD in the women's event at 6:30 p.m.

Rounding out Thursday's field competitors is Jeff O'Connell, who ranked 40^th in the region in the men's long jump (24-5¾). That event starts at 6:30 p.m. On the track, Amber Eichkorn will enter the 10,000-meters at 9:40 p.m. with the field's 47^th-best time (35:00.46).

Four more Coyotes will compete on Friday. Denton Stephens leads off at 10 a.m. in the men's hammer throw after finishing 40^th in the region (198-6) and Ashley Thompson will compete in the women's triple jump at 5 p.m. after finishing 29^th in the region (41-2¼).

On the track, Teivaskie Lewin enters the first round of the 110-meter hurdles ranked 27^th in the region (13.99) and Jeff Mettler will race in the 3,000-meter steeplechase while ranking 13^th (8:51.05). Those events start at 5 p.m. and 8:50 p.m., respectively.

The only Coyote currently scheduled to compete on Saturday is Dustin Valind, who ranks 48^th in the men's discus (175-10). That event starts at 3 p.m. Lewin could also compete on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. if he makes it past the first round of the 110 hurdles.