NEW ORLEANS—The South Dakota track and field squads have been ranked in the top-25 of the nation in the first weekly rankings released by the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday. The Coyote women are ranked No. 16 in the nation and the Coyote men are ranked No. 19 in the nation.
 
South Dakota is the only mid-major with both its men's and women's squads ranked in the top-25.
 
Standing at No. 16 in the rankings, the Coyote women are the highest-ranked team outside of the Power 5 Conferences and the only mid-major inside the top-25. Eight individuals and one relay are scoring points within USTFCCCA's rating index for the USD women.
 
Sophomore Carly Haring's high jump mark of 5-10 ¾ (1.80m) from the dual meet with SDSU remains sixth nationally.
 
The women's vault squad has four women ranked in the top-25 nationally led by sophomore Gen Hirata in sixth with her personal best jump of 14-1 ¾ (4.30m) from the Dakota Realty Invitational Saturday. Junior Deidra Marrison ranks 20th (13-5 ¼ / 4.10m), while senior Makiah Hunt and junior Landon Kemp are tied for 25th (13-2 ½ / 4.03m).
 
Senior Holly Gerberding scored 3,739 points in Saturday's pentathlon at the Dakota Realty Invitational. The defending Summit League champion ranks eighth nationally in the event.
 
Senior Callie Henrich's throw of 64-1 ¾ (19.55m) in the weight throw ranks her 22nd in the country. Her mark also came from Saturday's meet.
 
On the track, freshman Sara Reifenrath ranks 27th in the 400 meters with Saturday's clocking of 56.10 seconds.
 
In addition to the individuals, the Coyotes' distance medley relay of Kelsi Kearney, Haley Arens, Brigit Blote and McKenna Herrmann currently ranks fifth nationally. The quartet clocked 12:37.63.
 
The Coyote men sit No. 19 in the rankings and are one of three mid-major programs in the top-25. Seven individuals and one relay are scoring points within USTFCCCA's rating index for the USD men.
 
Junior Jack Durst improved his high jump mark by a quarter inch this week to rank fourth in the country at 7-0 ½ (2.15m).
 
The Coyote men's vault squad has four in the top-20 of the country. Senior Ethan Bray leads the group with his height of 18-1 (5.51m) from the USD Invitational, a bar that ranks him fourth nationally. Freshman Eerik Haamer also cracked the top-10 when he jumped 17-5 (5.31m) at the Dakota Realty Invitational, moving into the ninth spot. Both senior Kaleb Ellis and sophomore Marshall Faurot cleared 17-1 (5.21m) this weekend to tie for 19th nationally.
 
With his DakotaDome 60-meter hurdles record of 7.90 seconds at the Dakota Realty Invitational on Saturday, sophomore Brithton Senior moved to 14th in the NCAA.
 
Senior Matt Slagus sits 26th in the nation for the weight throw with his best mark of 65-6 (19.96m).
 
In addition to the individuals, the Coyotes' distance medley relay of Brendan Scott, Lionel McPhaull Jr., Dylan Blake and Braden Peters ranks sixth in the country. The quartet posted a clocking of 10:50.81.
 
South Dakota track and field returns to action at the Bison Open on Feb. 5-6 in Fargo, North Dakota.
 

USTFCCCA Week #1 Rankings

Women
1. Arkansas
2. Texas &AM
3. Georgia
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Southern California
7. LSU
8. Texas Tech
9. Kentucky
10. Tennessee
11. Minnesota
12. Baylor
13. Duke
14. Oklahoma State
15. Florida
16. South Dakota
17. Michigan State
18. Kansas
19. South Carolina
20. Oklahoma
21. Clemson
22. Maryland
23. Michigan
24. BYU
25. Ohio State
 
Men
1. Arkansas
2. North Carolina A&T
3. LSU
4. BYU
5. Tennessee
6. Texas Tech
7. Florida State
8. Alabama
9. Iowa
10. Southern California
11. Texas A&M
12. Kentucky
13. Oklahoma
14. Michigan
15. Texas
16. North Dakota State
17. Indiana
18. Virginia
19. South Dakota
20. Kansas State
21. Virginia Tech
22. Georgia
23. Minnesota
24. Missouri
25. Baylor