SIOUX FALLS, S.D.–South Dakota men's and women's track and field combined for 18 event titles at the 92nd Howard Wood Dakota Relays at Howard Wood Field.
 
Highlighting the Coyotes' 18 victories was senior Emily Grove's record-breaking vault. Grove set a new Howard Wood Dakota Relays meet record with a clearance of 14-1 ¼. The NCAA leader with a height of 15-1, Grove has cleared 14 feet seven times this season. Seniors Emily Brigham and Madison Mills swept the event in second and third.
 
USD freshman Samara Spencer captured a trio of individual titles during the meet. Spencer was victorious in the long jump in 18-2 ½, the triple jump in 39-8 ½ and the 100 meters in 12.08 seconds. The Coyotes swept the top three spots of the triple jump with Ashley Thompson, competing unattached, and freshman Britny Kerr taking second and third. Freshman Tasheka Gordon was runner-up in the 100 meters to Spencer.
 
Spencer also ran a leg of the Coyotes' 4x100-meter relay, which won in 46.12 seconds. Joining Spencer on the relay was Gordon, sophomore Karina Dufoe and junior Shanice Cannigan. The clocking was the second fastest in school history, improving USD's mark of 46.32 from earlier this season.
 
Senior Amber Eichkorn was also a double-winner after capturing the 1,500 meters and the 5,000 meters. Eichkorn became the fourth Coyote in USD history to clock a sub-4:30 mark for 1,500 meters. She crossed the finish line in 4:29.06. Eichkorn won the 5,000 meters on Friday night in 17:00.13. The Coyotes boasted seven in the top-10 of the 1,500 meters and four in the top-five of the 5,000 meters. Sophomore Megan Billington and junior Erin Wetzstein completed the sweep in the 5,000 meters in second and third, respectively, while senior Nicole Schmidt placed third in the 1,500 meters.
 
The Coyotes dropped a pair of personal bests in the 400 meters. Junior Brooke Ireland clocked 55.35 seconds to take home the title. Ireland dropped her personal best by four tenths of a second from 2015. Sophomore Brennan Schmidt finished runner-up in 47.07 seconds for an all-time personal best. The mark ranks fifth in USD history.
 
The men's 4x100-meter relay of senior Jay Cooper, sophomore Joe Reagan, senior Jack Thony and freshman Sam Clark was also victorious in 41.17 seconds.
 
The Coyotes swept the top-four spots of the men's discus with sophomore Ben Hammer grabbing the title in a personal best 174-6. Hammer improved his mark by three inches from earlier this spring. Junior Ethan Fenchel, senior Dustin Valind and junior Jacob Barents finished in that order for second through fourth.
 
Barents added a victory in the hammer throw with a launch of 191-7 with Fenchel finishing runner-up. Barents and Hammer completed the throws trifecta by placing second and third, respectively, in the shot put.
 
Senior Danielle Waldner won the hammer throw on the women's side with a toss of 189-10. Junior Lara Boman placed third with a three-foot personal best of 178-7.
 
Just a half-inch shy of the Howard Wood Dakota Relays meet record, freshman Chris Nilsen captured the pole vault in 17-5.
 
Junior Gawain Williams captured the 100 meters with a 10.90 clocking.
 
One of two Coyotes to run sub-11 minutes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Madeline Huglen broke the barrier again on Friday by winning in 10:56.03. Huglen set the school record earlier this spring in 10:42.42. Junior Brook Benes finished runner-up with a personal best time of 11:29.63.
 
Junior Shanice Cannigan won the 100 hurdles in 14.13 seconds and finished runner-up in the 400 hurdles in 1:01.99. Sophomore Haley Bruggeman took third in the 400 hurdles.
 
On the men's side, senior Jay Cooper clocked 14.90 seconds to capture the 110-meter hurdles. Sophomore Hunter Leighton finished runner-up.
 
Senior Meghan Dennis won the javelin throw with a distance of 144-2. She also placed third in the discus throw in 141-11.
 
Sophomore Jacob Simmons improved his best mark in the 1,500 meters with a runner-up performance in 3:50.37. Sophomore Eldon Warner dropped three seconds off his personal bests in both the 800 and 1,500 meters. Warner placed third in the 1,500 meters in 3:51.05 and fourth in the 800 meters in 1:51.59.
 
Junior Brice Cowman and sophomore Hunter Paulsen placed second and third, respectively, in the 5,000 meters. Cowman crossed the finish line in a personal best 14:58.99.
 
Schmidt added a third-place finish in the 800 meters after crossing the line in 2:11.33.
 
Dufoe finished third in the 200 meters in 25.03 seconds.
 
Freshmen Zack Anderson and Ethan Toy placed third in the high jump and long jump, respectively. Anderson cleared 6-7 while Toy leaped 21-8 ¾.
 
Sophomore Mary Wester took third in the shot put with a throw of 42-4 ¾.
 
Championship season begins as the Coyotes travel to Fargo, N.D., for the Summit League Championships next Thursday through Saturday.