2017 Summit League Championships Results

FARGO, N.D.–As the sun set on Schlanser Track on Thursday evening, seniors Amber Eichkorn and Emily Grove added to their illustrious Coyote careers by defending their Summit League titles at the 2017 Summit League Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Eichkorn captured her third Summit League title in the 10,000 meters in 35:57.60. The Coyote trio of Eichkorn, junior Erin Wetzstein and sophomore Megan Billington separated themselves from the field almost immediately. The trio lapped nearly the entire field to sweep the all-Summit League honors. Wetzstein clocked 36:10.47 and Billington finished in 36:16.66.
 
Eichkorn, who swept the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters in both 2014 and 2015, missed the 2016 season to injury. It marks the fourth consecutive season a Coyote has won the event as alumna Kelsey Barrett took her place a year ago. The Coyotes totaled 24 points in the 10,000 meters.
 
Grove topped the Summit for the second consecutive year with a clearance of 13-7 ¾ in the pole vault. She led a pack of Coyotes in scoring 26 points with four of the top five finishers. Senior Madison Mills earned all-Summit League honors with a third-place finish in 13-5 ¾. Both freshman Makiah Hunt and senior Emily Brigham cleared 13-3 ¾ for fourth and fifth, respectively. The height was a personal best for Hunt. Senior Hunter Wilkes took seventh in 12-10.
 
Senior Meghan Dennis finished runner-up in the javelin throw for the third time in her career to garner all-Summit honors. Dennis launched the javelin 161-0, a personal best that broke her school record from her freshman season in 2013 by two feet. The mark moved her to 18th in the NCAA West Region.
 
Classmate Amelia Miller placed sixth in the event with a throw of 136-8.
 
Junior Brice Cowman placed fifth in the men's 10,000 meters with a clocking of 31:07.00.
 
South Dakota also picked up a few points in the men's and women's hammer throw. Junior Ethan Fenchel placed sixth in 195-0 and junior Jacob Barents took seventh with a throw of 191-2. Senior Danielle Waldner placed eighth on the women's side in 183-4.
 
Action at the Summit League Championships continues tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Schlanser Track.