AUSTIN, Texas—South Dakota redshirt-junior Jonna Bart finished runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase Thursday at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays inside Mike A. Myers Stadium.
 
Bart, a two-time qualifier for the NCAA West Preliminary in the event, crossed the finish line in 10:28.92. Only Bart has clocked a faster time in a Coyote uniform. She owns the school record of 10:16.02.
 
It's been a long 22 months since senior Kamberlyn Lamer laced up her spikes at the 2019 NAIA Championships. She put on a South Dakota singlet for the first time Thursday for the first day of the heptathlon competition. She scored 3,061 points and sits in 12th place through the first four of seven events.
 
Freshman Abrielle Jirele placed seventh in the 'B' section of the women's 1,500 meters. She clocked 4:34.97 in her collegiate debut for the event.
 
Fellow freshman Sara Reifenrath advanced to the finals of the 400 meters. She clocked 54.18 seconds for the second-fastest outdoor time in South Dakota program history. She was the only athlete not from the SEC or the Big 12 to finish in the top-eight of the field. Redshirt-freshman Madison Jochum finished 38th in 58.10 seconds.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Merga Gemeda took ninth in the 5,000-meter run with a personal best clocking of 14:27.65. The time ranks sixth in USD program history. Redshirt-freshman Clayton Whitehead clocked 14:55.37 for 18th in the field.
 
Freshman Demar Francis took 13th in the 400 meters by clocking 47.31 seconds. The time ranks eighth on the Coyote Top 10 list.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Josephine Starner placed ninth in the 'B' section of the women's javelin. She sent the javelin 134-5 (40.97m) for her season opener. Senior Armand Khan took 12th in the men's javelin 'B' section with a throw of 189-0 (57.62m).
 
Redshirt-junior Holly Gerberding clocked a personal best 1:02.49 in the 400-meter hurdles. She finished 27th in the field. Redshirt-freshman Hugo Morvan clocked 59.04 seconds for the men's 400 hurdles.
 
The Coyotes also had a trio compete in the men's 200 meters. Redshirt-freshmen Ardell Inlay and Dylan Kautz clocked 21.90 seconds and 22.00 seconds, respectively. Freshman Virgil Steward finished just behind in 22.03 seconds.
 
South Dakota returns to action Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Austin. The Coyotes will also have athletes competing the next two days at the Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas, and the Wildcat Classic in Wayne, Nebraska.