VERMILLION, S.D.–South Dakota hosts its lone home meet of the indoor season on Saturday as the Coyotes hold the Dakota Realty Alumni Meet on Hillenbrand Memorial Track inside the DakotaDome. USD President James W. Abbott and his late wife, Colette, will be inducted into the USD Track and Field Hall of Honor at a reception following the meet.
Field events kick off with the men's pole vault at 1:45 p.m. while running events begin at 2 p.m. with the gun for the women's mile.
The "Kids Zone" will run from 4 to 5 p.m. Children are invited to come down to meet Charlie Coyote, play in the bounce house and run the Future Coyote Fun Run at 5 p.m. Competitors in the fun run will receive a Coyote track and field T-shirt.
In addition, the alumni 4x200-meter relay will be held on the track following the children's fun run.
Alumni and parents of current Coyote track and field athletes are invited to a social with light snacks provided in the Hall of Fame area of the Sanford Coyote Sports Center from 5 to 5:30 p.m. A short program including the presentation of the Hall of Honor award and speeches from Coyote seniors will follow on the main court of the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
Hall of Honor inductees:
President James W. Abbott and Colette Abbott
James W. Abbott became the 17th president of the University of South Dakota in 1997. He is the only alumnus to serve as president and the second longest-serving president in the university's 155-year history.
In his 20 years at South Dakota, Abbott grew the university's budget from $90 million to $215 million. Enrollment has grown from 7,448 to 10,261 students. The USD endowment is six times larger, growing from $45 million to $258 million thanks to two successful fundraising campaigns during Abbott's tenure. Abbott guided the Coyote athletic department's transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Abbott played a major role in the facility boom on campus. In addition to the repair and refurbishing of historical structures on campus, he led the construction of the Sanford Coyote Sports Center (2016), the Lillibridge Track Complex (2016), the Coyote Village residence hall (2010) and the Muenster University Center (2008) among others.
Jim and Colette were avid supporters of Coyote athletics. Colette was deeply passionate about the Coyote student-athletes and made a point to interact with them on a personal level. She volunteered as a timer or lap-counter at home track and field meets. As the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure coordinator, Colette worked with the USD track and field team to create a special event for the city of Vermillion. She passed in May of 2016.
