Freshman phenom fitting in at USD

Sara Reifenrath’s adjustment to NCAA Division I college indoor track and field competition has been as smooth as can be expected.

First of all, it hasn’t been an easy ride for anyone given the circumstances, but once the sport got pointed in the right direction, this freshman sprinter from Cedar Catholic High School in Hartington, Nebraska, did nothing but confirm her promise as a college runner.

“I really didn’t know what to expect coming into it, because we weren’t even sure we were going to have an indoor season,” Reifenrath said. “But I came to practice every day and listened to what my coaches had to tell me. I worked hard and kept hoping we’d have a season. Then we got lucky and we had one.”

Reifenrath is a prize recruit for the Coyotes after taking a total of four state titles in Nebraska as a sophomore and a junior. She would have very likely added to that total -- and possibly broke a record or two -- if the pandemic had not canceled the state high school meets in Nebraska last spring.

COVID-19 continues to slow down sports, but it’s clear it has not slowed down Reifenrath.

In her first Summit League indoor meet, she won the 200 meters and the 400 meters, setting school records in both events. She also anchored the 4x400 relay to a win with the sixth-fastest time in USD history, earning Summit League Newcomer of the Championship honors in the process.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to break school records my freshman year,” she said. “I wanted to break them, but I thought it was going to take a little longer. That was a good surprise.”

Coyote Director of Track and Field Lucky Huber doesn’t speak of Reifenrath’s quick start as all that surprising. Of course, he’s got a few more conference meets on his resume than Reifenrath does.

“She’s got all the right characteristics, you could tell that right away,” Huber said. “She’s humble, she’s hardworking and she’s tall.”

Reifenrath’s aunt, Meghann (Reifenrath) Joyce, was an All-American as part of a 4x400 relay team in 2006 at USD, so Huber was familiar with the family. He was heartened in his first conversations with Sara and her family to learn she was not dead set on running at a major Division I school even though her talents warranted that level of attention.

“She wasn’t a kid who had to go somewhere big,” Huber said. “She just wanted to go somewhere that was best for her. She’s interested in med school and she’s a computer science major -- she wants a really good education. Those kinds of student-athletes really fit in well here.”

Reifenrath’s history as an athlete began with her not liking volleyball. That was her other option for a fall sport.

“My mom said I had to do a sport, so I picked cross country,” Reifenrath said. “That was seventh grade and that’s when I started getting into running. But I didn’t try sprints until I was a freshman in high school.”

She competed in a 400 that freshman year after somebody was injured. The clock said that she should consider shorter distances in the future. She went on to become the best runner in the state of Nebraska in the 200 and 400, so it all worked out pretty well.

There’s a lot to sort out yet for Reifenrath. The potential is there to also include the 800 on her list of events to take seriously. For now, though, just getting outside running on the big track is enough to consider. 

Her improvement to this point has been steady. During the fall, USD coaches helped her improve her running form and that was reflected in her times improving.

She has since become comfortable with the strong team environment that is present at USD. 

“I thought it would be more intimidating,” Reifenrath said. “I showed up for practice and I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but everyone has been very supportive and nice. Missing out on my senior season in high school was definitely a bummer, but I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to keep running in college. A lot of people don’t get that chance.”

Her humble nature has been a great accompaniment to her obvious talents. It might not have anything to do with how well she runs as she goes on, but it makes her a fine teammate. With a potential for a great career up ahead, that qualifies as something else to look forward to. 

“Sometimes a runner like Sara will come into a program and the older kids will kind of look at her like ‘Oh, that’s someone who is trying to take my spot,’” Huber said. “I don’t think anyone here has looked at Sara like that. I think they all look at her as a great athlete who is going to make our team better. They’ve really embraced her that way.”