BROOKINGS, S.D.—South Dakota men's and women's track and field are slated to compete at the 2019 Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.
 
Action kicks off with the multi-events at 9:30 a.m. both days. Running events will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The Team Race
 
South Dakota's women were picked second in the Summit League's preseason poll while the Coyote men were picked third. The Coyote women are coming off the program's first Summit League title in track and field after tying North Dakota State at the outdoor meet last spring.
 
The League Leaders
 
Senior Megan Billington's impressive weekend at the SDSU Classic two weeks ago gave her the top spot in the 5,000 meters and the distance medley relay. She's the only Coyote track athlete to lead the Summit in an event this winter. Billington's time of 16:30.19 in the 5,000 meters is also a USD program record. She anchored the Coyotes' distance medley relay to a league-best 11:43.23 with help from senior Madeline Huglen, freshman Haley Arens and sophomore Macy Heinz running the other legs.
 
The Coyotes lead the Summit again in both the men's and women's pole vault. Juniors Chris Nilsen and Helen Falda pace the two vault squads. Nilsen has cleared 18-8 ¾ for fifth in the nation this season, while Falda has jumped 14-2 for 13th nationally.
 
Junior Zack Anderson has continued to improve in the high jump this season with his personal best of 7-3 ¾ leading the Summit and ranking 10th in the nation. He also holds USD's school record in the event.
 
Leaping to the top of Summit on the final weekend of the regular season, senior Joe Reagan reached 24-7 in the long jump. He's also ranked second in the 60 meters this season.
 
The Defending Champions
 
Only five men and four women return to defend their 2018 indoor league crowns, and South Dakota represents two men and two women.
 
On the men's side, senior Eldon Warner is the reigning Summit League Indoor Track Championship MVP. Warner captured the 800 meters in 1:54.76, while also completing the impressive feat of earning all-league honors in the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Anderson also captured his first indoor title last season with a jump of 6-11 ¾.
 
Billington raced to a win in the 5,000 meters last year with a clocking of 16:46.39. In the field, junior Helen Falda looks to defend her pole vault title from last season when she leaped 13-7 ¼.
 
The Veterans
 
The reigning NCAA outdoor champion, Nilsen is aiming for his first 19-foot vault of 2019. He surpassed the height six times in 2018 and boasts a personal best of 19-2 ¾.
 
Warner looks to continue on the success he's built up over the past year. He became the first Coyote, male or female, to win an individual Summit League cross country title in the fall. Ensuing accolades included the Summit League Championship MVP and Summit League Athlete of the Year awards. He's ranked in the top-three of the 800 meters, mile and 3,000 meters this season.
 
Falda swept the Summit's indoor and outdoor titles in her inaugural campaign with the Coyotes last season. She improved her indoor best to 14-2 at the Jack Johnson Classic in January.
 
Junior Samara Spencer captured the 2017 Summit League Field Championship MVP and also took home the Newcomer of the Championship award that same season. She's ranked in the top-10 of four events, including sitting second in the 60 meters and the long jump. Classmate Britny Kerr will also compete in a handful of events this weekend, ranking in the top-10 for three.
 
Sneaking away with a Summit League title last spring in the hammer throw, senior Lara Boman enters the weekend with the third-best weight throw in the league at 70-5. She's 15th in the nation with that same mark.
 
The Rookies
 
The women's pole vault has a handful of newcomers on board this season, highlighted by graduate transfer Kimmy Peterson and true freshman Deidra Marrison. The two join Falda to create a league-leading trio above 13-7 this season.
 
Freshman Jack Durst joins the top men's high jump crew in the nation this season. He's cleared 7-2 ½, which ranks 18th in the nation this season. His jump is also second all-time in USD history behind Anderson.
 
German transfer Aleksi Rosler sits fourth in the Summit this season in the 400 meters with his speedy clocking of 48.11 seconds.