Results
TEMPE, Ariz.–Coyote freshman
Chris Nilsen broke the South Dakota outdoor pole vault record with a jump of 18 feet, 6 ¼ inches, at the Baldy Castillo Invitational at Sun Angel Stadium on Friday.
The 2017 NCAA Indoor Champion crushed the field by a foot and a half in his first outdoor meet. Nilsen came in at 17-4 ½ and captured the meet title with his first made bar. Nilsen went on to clear 17-8 ½, 18-2 ½ and 18-6 ½ each on his second attempt. Nilsen breaks an 11-year-old school record by 11 inches on his first try. The previous record of 17-8 ½ was held by Sam Pribyl, who reached the height when capturing the 2006 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championship title.
The Coyote distance crew combined for several personal and season bests, highlighted by freshman
Julia Noah's second-fasted 1,500-meter clocking in school history. Noah crossed the finish line in 4:29.66 for sixth. Juniors
Nicole Schmidt and
Lindsay Joyce finished in 14th and 15th, respectively, in 4:38.31 and 4:38.38. Senior
Amber Eichkorn was 19th in 4:39.84. On the men's side, sophomore
Jacob Simmons took 22nd with a personal best 3:55.82.
Freshmen
Samara Spencer and
Britny Kerr placed third and fourth, respectively, in the triple jump at the meet. Spencer leaped 37-11 ¾ and Kerr jumped 36-6 ¾.
Junior
Shanice Cannigan took seventh in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.38. Senior
Jay Cooper was 12th with a 53.99 second clocking in the 400-meter hurdles.
A launch of 192-0 ½ netted junior
Ethan Fenchel a 26-foot personal best in the hammer throw. Fenchel placed ninth in the meet, throwing the third-best mark in program history.
Senior
Elizabeth Szymonski threw a 12-foot personal best with a mark of 142-3 ¾ in the javelin. Szymonski took 10th place and senior teammate
Meghan Dennis was 12th. Dennis threw 136-8.
Senior
Danielle Waldner took 14th in the hammer throw with a mark of 172-7 ½.
Jamaican natives, junior
Gawain Williams and freshman
Tasheka Gordon, led the Coyotes in the 200 meters. Williams clocked 21.79 seconds for 25th and Gordon took 33rd in 25.86.
South Dakota continues action at the Baldy Castillo Invitational at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
