VERMILLION, S.D.—South Dakota track and field is slated to host the annual Dakota Realty Alumni Meet on Saturday inside the DakotaDome. Field events will begin at 10:45 a.m. with running events to follow at noon.
Alumni and parents of current Coyote track and field athletes are invited to a reception on Coyote Landing at 2 p.m.
At 4 p.m., three individuals will be inducted into the USD Track and Field Hall of Honor, bringing the total to 55 members. The Hall of Honor originated in 2002 to recognize former athletes and contributors to the South Dakota track and field program. The inductees of the Hall of Honor's 15th class are Sara (Deckert) Stahlecker, Joel Harris, and Mark Liebl. See below for bios.
The annual alumni 4x200-meter relay will be run at 4:25 p.m.
Afterwards, there will be a future Coyote fun run with Charlie Coyote at 4:30 p.m. Competitors will receive a Coyote Track and Field t-shirt.
The Hall of Honor banquet will follow the meet at 5 p.m. at the Old Lumber Company.
Hall of Honor inductees:Sara (Deckert) StahleckerOriginally from Doland, S.D., Sara (Deckert) Stahlecker was a six-time All-American for the Coyotes and won the 400-meter dash at the 2001 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. Her winning time of 54.65 seconds remains a program record. Stahlecker also ranks in the program's top-10 for the indoor 200 meters, outdoor 100 meters, outdoor 200 meters, outdoor 400 meters, and outdoor 4x200 relay. Stahlecker also holds the DakotaDome record in the 4x100 relay for 48.55 seconds with Elena Swan, Tamika Williams, and Tori Devericks. In addition to her national accolades, Stahlecker found success at the conference level as she raced to nine North Central Conference titles in five different events.
Stahlecker graduated with a bachelor's in business administration. After graduation, she became the fifth Coyote track and field athlete to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. A total of 12 more athletes have received the award since then. Stahlecker used the scholarship towards her MBA from the University of South Dakota.
Stahlecker is now a Treasury Operations Manager for Citigroup. Stahlecker and her husband, Jeff, reside in Tea, S.D., and have two children, Sydney and Callen.
Joel HarrisBorn in La Crosse, Wis., and raised in Iowa, Joel Harris has been a supporter of track and field for his entire life. He attended the first-ever Drake Relays in 1948 and has returned for at least one day of the meet every year since. Harris won the shot put at the Iowa State Track and Field Championships on Drake's track for three consecutive years from 1961-63.
Harris attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, from 1963-65. He competed in football, basketball, and track and field. As an athlete at Morningside, Harris participated in the first-ever Sioux City Relays in 1964. He was also the North Central Conference runner-up in the indoor shot put. After two years at Morningside, Harris went on to the United States Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1969, after which he then made the decision to continue his education at the University of South Dakota. He graduated in 1976 with his bachelor's in education.
Harris has been involved with The Graphic Edge since 1984, working in sales of screen printed and embroidered items in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska. Harris is also a recipient of the South Dakota High School Coaches Association's Distinguished Service Award, which was given to him in 2012.
Mark LieblA native of Menno, S.D., Mark Liebl was the runner-up in the javelin at the 2006 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships with a school record-breaking throw of 221 feet, one inch. Liebl's All-America performance, teamed with runner-up finishes by Dan Tolsma (hammer throw) and Terry Liggins (110-meter hurdles), led the Coyotes to a fourth-place finish in the team race. Liebl's javelin mark remains both the school and state record. He also holds program top-10 marks in the discus and hammer throw. While at South Dakota, Liebl was actively involved in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
A 2002 graduate of Menno High School, Liebl placed in four South Dakota state track and field meets. A four-sport athlete, he was involved in track and field, cross country, basketball, and football. He received all-state honors in both basketball and football.
Liebl enters his fourth year as an assistant track and field coach at Dell Rapids St. Mary High School. He's also in his first season as an assistant on the boys' basketball team. Liebl is a Warehouse Material Coordinator with TransCanada. Liebl and his wife, Amanda, reside in Dell Rapids, S.D., with their three children, Joshua, Kate, and Samuel.
