NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota men's and women's track and field has been ranked in the top-10 of the Midwest Region by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association in the inaugural regional rankings of the season.
The Coyote men are ranked ninth in the Midwest, while the women check in at 10th. Meanwhile, in the national rankings the South Dakota men are ranked No. 26 and the women are No. 41.
Interestingly, South Dakota's men are ranked higher in the national rankings system than in the regional rankings index. The Coyotes have dropped three places in the national rankings index since the preseason announcement. Highlighting the group in the rankings are pole vaulters
Chris Nilsen and
Ethan Bray, along with high jumpers
Zack Anderson and
Jack Durst. Joining the ranks in the week one poll is freshman
Brithton Senior, who clocked a time of 7.82 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday to move to 20th in the nation.
On the women's side, South Dakota remains steady at 41st in the national rankings index. Senior
Samara Spencer leads the women with her long jump mark, followed by a trio of pole vaulters. Senior
Helen Falda and sophomore
Deidra Marrison were on the preseason list, but redshirt-junior
Makiah Hunt's vault of 13-8 ½ on Saturday moved her into 15th in the NCAA this season.
The USTFCCCA computerized rankings are tallied using descending order lists for each event and assigning potential point totals.
South Dakota returns to action at the Adidas Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday.
