AUSTIN, Texas–South Dakota sophomore Chris Nilsen broke 19 feet for the second time of his career en route to capturing the pole vault at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays inside Mike A. Myers Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Nilsen and Southeast Louisiana senior Devin King both cleared 19 feet, ¼ inch, to tie for first in the NCAA standings this season. Nilsen made the bar on his first attempt to win the university elite section while King's second-attempt make placed him second. King previously won the event at the Texas Relays back in 2016. Both missed all three attempts at 19-2 ¼. The height also ties both athletes for seventh in NCAA outdoor history.
 
The bar ties Nilsen's overall personal best, which he set at the Nebraska Tune-Up during the indoor season earlier this year.
 
Nilsen became the third Coyote to take home gold at the meet since USD's move to NCAA Division I. Nilsen joins Bethany Buell (women's pole vault, 2013) and Amber Eichkorn (women's 5,000 meters, 2015) as Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays champions.
 
Also competing at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays was recent USD graduate and volunteer assistant Emily Grove. She cleared 14-3 ¼ in her season opener to take 12th in the women's elite pole vault. Jenn Suhr, the 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, won the meet by clearing 15-10.
 
South Dakota hosts its first home meet of the outdoor season, the Dakota Duals, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Lillibridge Track and Field Complex.