SACRAMENTO, Calif.—South Dakota junior high jumper Zack Anderson returns to the national stage, advancing through the NCAA West Preliminary on Saturday inside Hornet Stadium.
 
Anderson boasted the top qualifying position by clearing up to 7 feet, 1 inch, without a miss. He surpassed 7-feet for the 15th time during his junior campaign. A native of Parker, South Dakota, Anderson is a two-time All-American high jumper for the Coyotes. Anderson was one of nine men to make the final bar with the final three spots determined by a jump-off.
 
True freshman Jack Durst narrowly missed out on joining Anderson in Austin. He was one of six men tied for 10th place, making up to 6-11 without a miss. The final three spots were determined by a six-man jump-off and Durst did not advance. Rounding out the nation's top-ranked high jump squad were senior Deshonn Brown and sophomore Travis Larson in 30th and 31st, respectively.
 
Senior Eldon Warner wrapped up his Coyote career by breaking the school record in the men's 1,500-meter run for the second time over the weekend. He clocked a new personal best of 3:43.15, improving his record by nearly two seconds. Warner finished 15th in the quarterfinals of the event.
 
Senior Ben Hammer returned for the second day to compete Saturday in the shot put. Hammer placed 25th with a throw of 60-3 ¼. It marked his sixth time throwing past 60 feet in 2019. Hammer qualified for the NCAA Championships in the discus during Friday's competition.
 
The Coyotes qualified five student-athletes to the NCAA Championships to be held June 5-8 in Austin, Texas. Those advancing include senior hammer thrower Lara Boman, junior pole vaulter Chris Nilsen, junior pole vaulter Helen Falda, Hammer and Anderson.