DES MOINES, Iowa—South Dakota juniors Zack Anderson and Helen Falda added a pair of Drake Relays titles within minutes of one another on Friday at the 110th Drake Relays inside Drake Stadium.
 
Anderson jumped 7 feet, 2 ½ inches, for the third time this season to tie his own school record yet again. The Coyote high jump squad placed all four jumpers in the top-15 of the competition. Freshman Jack Durst took sixth with a clearance of 6-9 ¾. Senior Deshonn Brown tied for ninth and sophomore Travis Larson was 15th.
 
Falda's win led the Coyotes to a sweep of the top-three spots in the women's vault. Falda claimed the title in 14-1 ¼ for her third vault over 14 feet this spring. Senior Kimmy Peterson and freshman Deidra Marrison finished second and third, respectively, with both vaulting over 13-3 ½. Sophomore Landon Kemp took sixth in the competition. This marks the third-straight year that a Coyote woman has won the pole vault at the Drake Relays.
 
The Coyotes have compiled 24 Drake Relays flags in program history with three already in 2019. Senior Megan Billington added a title in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday night.
 
South Dakota's women's 4x100-meter relay made tomorrow's finals with the fourth-fastest qualifying time. Junior Samara Spencer, senior Karina Dufoe, sophomore Danielle Thompson and junior Tasheka Gordon combined to run a season-best time of 46.14 seconds.
 
Freshman Josephine Starner placed fifth in the javelin with a throw of 142-6. Junior Armand Khan took eighth in the men's javelin with his throw of 183-1.
 
The Coyotes' women's 4x800-meter relay took eighth Friday night in a school-record time of 8:56.16. Senior Mallory Fine, junior Ellie Wilson, sophomore Macy Heinz and sophomore Morgan Lawler ran legs of the race. Heinz recorded the fastest split of the group with a 2:10.44. It marked the first time in program history for a relay to clock under nine minutes.
 
Junior Kianna Stewart split a 5:03.38 to lead off the Coyotes' 4x1600-meter relay. Redshirt-freshman Abby Ripperda, sophomore Kelsi Kearney and sophomore Jonna Bart joined her as the relay finished 10th in 20:37.38. It marked the sixth-fastest relay in school history.
 
South Dakota's 4x1600-meter relay took ninth in the men's race with a time of 17:31.33. Senior Jacob Simmons, sophomore Cole Streich, freshman Merga Gemeda and senior Hunter Paulsen ran legs of the race which posted the ninth-best time in USD history.
 
Gordon also posted a pair of top-20 finishes in the open sprint events on Friday. She took 11th in the 100 meters in 11.86 seconds, just off her personal best of 11.78. She also finished 18th in the 200 meters in 25.00 seconds.
 
Spencer joined Gordon in the open 100 meters with a time of 12.03 for 15th place.
 
Senior Madeline Huglen placed 12th in the 1,500 meters with a personal best of 4:30.05.
 
A pair of Coyote shot putters placed 13th in the men's and women's field. Senior Ben Hammer launched the shot 57 feet even, while sophomore Callie Henrich threw 47-0 ¼.
 
Two days after winning the Capital Square Vault, Coyote alumna Emily Grove placed third in the women's invitational pole vault with a vault of 15-1 ½ inside Drake Stadium. She finished behind 2016 Olympic silver medalist Sandi Morris and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jenn Suhr in the competition.
 
South Dakota track and field returns to action at the Drake Relays at 9 a.m. Saturday.